You are here:

What Might Have Been

Name: What Might Have Been
Director: Florian Koerner von Gustorf
Released: 2019
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

3.8/10

Limited

2019

Director

Florian Koerner von Gustorf

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

What Might Have Been operates as a traditional character study centered on personal history and romantic memories. It offers a detailed exploration of female independence and emotional autonomy through Astrid, yet stays within the confines of conventional romantic drama clichés. The film does not explore multi-layered issues or disrupt social hierarchies systematically. While it touches on historical contexts like East Germany, the emphasis remains on individual emotional experiences rather than socio-political critiques. Overall, the work adheres to a standard European drama format. It lacks diverse casting or queer themes necessary to challenge established cultural norms or offer a more inclusive representation.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does What Might Have Been have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The story focuses on heterosexual relationships between Astrid, Paul, and Julius. There are no characters with non-cisgender identities or narratives that question the assumption that everyone is straight.

How does What Might Have Been portray gender?

Fair

Astrid is a key character who navigates her own independence and emotional life. The film highlights her ability to manage her romantic journey.

How racially and ethnically diverse is What Might Have Been?

Limited

The setting in Budapest and East Germany suggests a mostly white cast. The narrative seems to align with the typical demographics expected in a European period drama.

How does What Might Have Been represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film delves into themes of memory and the changing face of post-Cold War Europe. It emphasizes personal nostalgia over a critical look at Western institutions or religion.

Does What Might Have Been include disability representation?

Minimal

The narrative does not mention any characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Present on Screen

Offers a nuanced portrayal of female independence and emotional autonomy through Astrid.
Explores complex themes of memory and the passage of time within a historical European context.

Limited or Absent

Lacks significant racial and ethnic diversity, sticking to a predominantly Eurocentric casting model.
Does not feature queer narratives or non-cisgender identities to challenge the assumption that everyone is straight.
Does not address disability representation or systemic socio-political critiques.

Official Synopsis

Astrid is in her late forties and has her life firmly under control. She has fallen in love with Paul, and their first weekend trip together takes them to Budapest for a few romantic days, just the two of them. But in the Hungarian capital things happen differently than they'd planned: They run into Julius, Astrid's first great love, whom she'd met at an artists' party in East Germany in 1986.

How are these scores produced? →