Maybe I’ll Go: George Malissovas Takes the First Step

Everyone loves telling young people to chase their dreams. But what happens when chasing one means disappointing the people waiting for you at home?

George Malissovas’ debut student short Maybe I’ll Go finds its drama inside that familiar crossroads. Dimitris is a young amateur musician with aspirations considerably louder than his enthusiasm for university. His mother sees irresponsibility where he sees possibility.

Malissovas wisely keeps the premise compact, not trying to reinvent the coming-of-age film, and it doesn't need to. Short cinema often works best when it takes one recognizable dilemma, puts a character in front of it and asks them to choose.

Production design, carefully chosen locations and appealing cinematography give Dimitris' modest world texture, while the color correction provides a pleasing consistency. There is a sense that Malissovas is thinking about what belongs inside the frame rather than merely recording what happens in front of it, an encouraging quality for a first film.

Where the debut status becomes more visible is in the dramatic machinery.

The writing remains fairly elementary, occasionally stating emotions that could have been communicated through behavior. Some dialogue feels constructed rather than spoken. Acting can appear forced when performers are asked to carry dialogue that doesn't leave enough room for subtext.

Casting is another valuable lesson for future projects. Dimitris' mother appears too close in age to the student world surrounding the protagonist. Student filmmakers shouldn't be afraid to look beyond their immediate circle. Local theatre groups, independent actors and open casting calls can dramatically expand a film's world without necessarily expanding its budget.

None of this undermines what Maybe I’ll Go represents, a promising first attempt at translating an uncomplicated human dilemma into cinema. Its idea is modest, its execution imperfect, but its visual presentation demonstrates genuine care.

Not every debut needs to arrive kicking down the door. Sometimes it is enough to knock, introduce yourself and show that you know where you want to go next.

For a film about finding the courage to take an opportunity, perhaps the most fitting thing is that Malissovas has already taken his first one.