Review of I Believe in Unicorns (2015) by Peter F — 02 Jul 2014

Student Academy Award winner Leah Meyerhoff used Kickstarter to raise funds for this impressive debut feature. It's a heartfelt take on teen romance and escapism that takes advantage of the micro budget to present the fantasy within the mind of the teen that looks cheap and plain as opposed to high tech and extravagant, and thus more down to earth.

Rarely has a movie on this scale done such a charming and exquisite job of playing out the reality of the unreality of a minds fantasy. Natalia Dyer plays Davina, a teenager who seems to think the world looks down on her as a rebellious troublemaker, while we instantly sympathize for her feeling of isolation and actually wonder why she hasn't killed herself or become a user of hard drugs.

The director's mother, Toni Meyerhoff, having endured Multiple Sclerosis in real life, plays Davina's disabled mother, Toni. With little reward and further discouragement at every step, Davina had assumed the position of Toni's caretaker at a young age, with little money and a missing father.

She finds some inner peace in her relationship with her best friend (Julia Garner). Also inspiring is her free thinking photography teacher who turns up briefly, played by indie-film regular Amy Seimetz.

When Davina gets involved with a slightly older man named Sterling (Peter Vack), she opts for a mature variation of the standard teen runaway, though when she really gets to know Sterling, the fantasies come in handy to combat the results of his true nature.

The plot progresses at a leisurely pace consistent with Davina's life experiences and personal growth. The entire cast seems to be speaking and behaving naturally. Dyer does truly light up the screen throughout, regardless of the tone of any particular scene.

How it makes the viewer wish we could reach through and hold her hand. Leah Meyerhoff works wonders with little resources, and hopefully any deserved future success won't corrupt that.