Can knowing how relationships can come to an end change a person’s belief in love? In Marriage Is Beautiful, Yusuf Çim plays Can, a divorce lawyer who tries to protect himself from emotional closeness because of the disappointments he carries from his past. We spoke with Yusuf Çim about Can’s reserved approach to love and marriage, the unexpected connection he develops with Aslı, and the uncertainties that come with loving someone.
As a divorce lawyer, Can witnesses the most fragile moments of relationships up close. Do you think his choice of profession could serve as a kind of defence mechanism for him?
I think it could. The emotional wounds Can carries from his family background also influence his approach to relationships. The breakups he encounters in his professional life further fuel his doubts about love and marriage. When you constantly hear about why relationships fail, you may eventually start anticipating what could go wrong even before a relationship begins. Can believes he can protect himself by keeping his emotions under control. But avoiding an experience does not mean you will never feel those emotions. His encounter with Aslı challenges him in this respect as well.
His relationship with Aslı, which initially begins as nothing more than an agreement, confronts Can with emotions he is not accustomed to. What is it about Aslı that draws him closer to her and sets her apart from other people?
Aslı is someone who can comfortably express her own opinions and challenge Can when necessary. She does not immediately accept the distance he puts between himself and others or his definitive views on relationships. I think their playful arguments play a part in bringing them closer. They are curious about each other. As they spend more time together, Can begins to see not only Aslı’s strong character but also her vulnerabilities and the lengths she is willing to go for the people she loves. Her sincerity affects him. Within a relationship he initially believes he has firmly defined boundaries for, he gradually finds himself feeling closer to her than he ever anticipated.
How does knowing that a relationship may one day come to an end affect a person’s belief in love? To what extent do you agree with Can’s perspective on this?
Knowing that a relationship may end can make a person more cautious. I can understand why Can thinks this way; his experiences and what he has witnessed in his profession have brought him to this point. However, it is impossible to know from the very beginning how a relationship will turn out. Constantly thinking about the end can also affect the time you spend together. I believe it is important for two people to trust each other and make an effort for their relationship. Accepting this is not easy for Can. As his feelings for Aslı grow stronger, he is forced to reconsider the rules he has established to protect himself.
