indie
“I don’t dream. I live my dreams,” was the theme and one of the most captivating lines of this wild rollercoaster. This simple phrase captured the essence of a typical troubled bad boy, but also seemed to give purpose to our princess. While the simple girl meets boy fairytale plot is evident here, the magic of their adventure and the added push of self-discovery is the glue that holds the foundation of this film together.
The journey that Davina and Sterling take isn't anything spectacular, and at times is lackluster, but just enough happens to keep it interesting. The audience becomes aligned with, and roots for the lead, Davina first. Her sensitivity and thoughtfulness is admired throughout the first half of the tale, but soon becomes her own personal kryptonite. Although her dedication and will to endure the challenges that she faces with Sterling is admirable, her effort is only enough to draw in sympathy, rather than empathy from the audience as the film transitions.
Sterling, who is always shown in a raw and unfiltered manner, is softened by his interactions with Davina and because of this, the audience may root for him throughout the film. As the film progresses, the audience is quickly let down by Sterling and his blooming relationship with Davina. While the audience may see Sterling as a toxic force our heroine does not, which begins to raise a few questions concerning the realness of film. The realistic nature of the film is questionable because of Davina and Sterling's toxic relationship, as well as each of their actions and their constant state of dependency. Even though questions may arise at specific moments, these occurrences may be necessary because the apparent youth and naivety of the our characters shine through and continues to serve as a guide for this fairytale-ridden coming-of-age story.
From the first scene, it's evident that this film is the product of someone who appreciates film not only as a vehicle for stories, but also for its aesthetics. The film is beautifully shot to represent the nostalgia and fairytale state that the main character is longing for. Here dreams and feeling don’t overshadow her real life actions, but instead enhances them. Her daydreams further adds value to each scene, not only because of the added action sequences, but also because of the delicate and thoughtful details that are put into each symbolic cutaway.
INDIE CIRCUIT: I Believe In Unicorns
First love, rebellion, adventure, and the water works; I Believe
in Unicorns has is all. The 2015 film is a beautifully crafted tale about a
young girl in search of her prince charming. One thing to keep in mind is that
Davina (Natalia Dyer) isn’t Cinderella and Sterling (Peter Vack) is no Prince
Charming.
“I don’t dream. I live my dreams,” was the theme and one of the most captivating lines of this wild rollercoaster. This simple phrase captured the essence of a typical troubled bad boy, but also seemed to give purpose to our princess. While the simple girl meets boy fairytale plot is evident here, the magic of their adventure and the added push of self-discovery is the glue that holds the foundation of this film together.
The journey that Davina and Sterling take isn't anything spectacular, and at times is lackluster, but just enough happens to keep it interesting. The audience becomes aligned with, and roots for the lead, Davina first. Her sensitivity and thoughtfulness is admired throughout the first half of the tale, but soon becomes her own personal kryptonite. Although her dedication and will to endure the challenges that she faces with Sterling is admirable, her effort is only enough to draw in sympathy, rather than empathy from the audience as the film transitions.
Sterling, who is always shown in a raw and unfiltered manner, is softened by his interactions with Davina and because of this, the audience may root for him throughout the film. As the film progresses, the audience is quickly let down by Sterling and his blooming relationship with Davina. While the audience may see Sterling as a toxic force our heroine does not, which begins to raise a few questions concerning the realness of film. The realistic nature of the film is questionable because of Davina and Sterling's toxic relationship, as well as each of their actions and their constant state of dependency. Even though questions may arise at specific moments, these occurrences may be necessary because the apparent youth and naivety of the our characters shine through and continues to serve as a guide for this fairytale-ridden coming-of-age story.
From the first scene, it's evident that this film is the product of someone who appreciates film not only as a vehicle for stories, but also for its aesthetics. The film is beautifully shot to represent the nostalgia and fairytale state that the main character is longing for. Here dreams and feeling don’t overshadow her real life actions, but instead enhances them. Her daydreams further adds value to each scene, not only because of the added action sequences, but also because of the delicate and thoughtful details that are put into each symbolic cutaway.
All in all, the audience is challenged throughout the film and asked
symbolically by the filmmaker to make connections between real events and
imagined actions. As the audience uses their imaginations throughout the tale, they
soon become accustomed to the idea of animation, a little fairy dust and of
course the idea of unicorns. It isn't impossible to relate to the main character, as she is caught up in her first romance, but the audience is left bewildered and drained as her relationship with Sterling develops. The viewer should remember to enjoy the idea of youth through the eyes of a young woman, but also be weary of the typical happy ending.
I Believe In Unicorns (2015)
Director: Leah Meyerhoff
Writer: Leah Meyerhoff
Stars: Natalia Dyer, Peter Vack, Julia Garner
Run Time: 1h 20min
More About: Indie Circuit
The Indie Circuit explores and critiques films that are produced with a lower budget, that have been entered into film festivals, or that will never hit mainstream theaters. In the Indie Circuit you'll find a plethora of Post-Cannes film reviews!
