I Believe in Unicorns follows a young girl named “Davina” (Natalia Dyer) who gets into her first relationship with slightly older bad boy named “Sterling” (Peter Vack).
This is a story about first loves and heartbreak, and filmmaker Leah Meyerhoff invites the audience in to witness young love unravel, as something that was once great turns abusive and harsh.
Strong performances by both Dyer and Vack, but unfortunately Meyerhoff fumbles in her execution. Promising, but not quite there. (JEP 3/5)
Review by Contributing Editor Jessica E. Perry
I Believe in Unicorns is writer/director Leah Meyerhoff’s first feature. It’s a good first start, but the film is clearly not one of a seasoned professional. While the fantastical elements were supposed to be just that–fantastical–I found them to be a quite literal and unnecessary interpretation of Davina’s inner monologue.
The film tells the story of the highs and lows of young love. “Davina” (Natalia Dyer) is a lonely teenage girl–presumably about 16–who lives with and takes care of her disabled mother. Although the viewer never gets any specifics about her mother’s illness, we know she is wheelchair-bound and that Davina has been taking care of her since her father left them.
On her birthday, Davina and a friend go to the park to open presents and girl chat. Davina has her sights set on one of the older skater boys across the park. What a coincidence, skater boy “Sterling” (Peter Vack) must have noticed her too, because he suddenly appears at her side, says a few words behind half-lidded eyes, and tells her to meet him tomorrow. He draws a map to meet-up place on her arm, and walks away. Young, innocent Davina never had any hope. With his bad boy charm she’s immediately smitten … and so it begins.
As the two spend more and more time together, Sterling begins to show abusive tendencies (both emotional and physical), but Davina only sees acts of love, so she falls deeper and deeper. Then the two angsty teens decide they would rather be “anywhere but here,” and I Believe in Unicorns suddenly turns into a road movie. Off they go in Sterling’s beaten up car to wherever the road may take them.
Davina’s live action story is intercut with stop motion animation, representing her teenage subconscious. While this is creative idea, the execution is clumsy and far too literal. When Davina is happy, the unicorn is happy. When Davina starts to feel threatened, so does the unicorn. Davina is assaulted by Sterling, and suddenly a dragon appears in the animation segments and starts attacking the unicorn. Real Davina walks away, while Dream Nymph Davina draws back her bow to silence the dragon and save the unicorn. After awhile, it was all a bit much.
Meyerhoff’s intentions were clear; the repeated imagery, the score, and the animation all had purpose. But the end result was overwhelmingly “student filmy.” While Meyerhoff clearly shows promise as a filmmaker, she’s not quite there yet. Nevertheless, the film boasts great performances by young actors Dyer and Vack, and while I Believe in Unicorns is not a film for everyone, it will speak to a certain audience that will applaud all the film school elements. But caution: If you’re not in that category, this is probably not the film for you.
© Jessica E. Perry FF2 Media (6/7/15)
Top Photo: Natalia Dyer as “Fantasy Davina.”
Bottom Photo: Dyer with Peter Vack as “Sterling.”
Photo Credits: Chloe Aftel
Q: Does I Believe in Unicorns pass the Bechdel Test?
Yes.
Although Davina and her mother do not have any in-depth conversations, they certainly do speak about many things over the course of the film.
But curiously, they never talk about Sterling. When she runs off with Sterling, Davina goes missing for an undisclosed amount of time, but when she returns, its like nothing has changed. Her mother never reacts; we do not see her worry and we do not see her relief. Even if Meyerhoff is all about the turmoil of teenage love and heartbreak, that does seem a bit off.
I’ll right away grab your rss as I can’t find your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter
service. Do you’ve any? Please let me recognize so that
I may just subscribe. Thanks.
constantly i used to read smaller articles or reviews which as well clear their
motive, and that is also happening with this paragraph which I am reading at this time.
This piece of writing will help the internet visitors for setting up new weblog or
even a weblog from start to end.
Today, I went to the beach with my children. I found a sea shell and gave
it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed
the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is
entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!
Howdy this is somewhat of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding experience so I wanted to
get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about website. Regards
This piece of writing presents clear idea for the
new users of blogging, that really how to do running a blog.
Pretty! This was a really wonderful article. Thank you for supplying
this information.
It’s awesome to pay a quick visit this site and reading
the views of all friends about this piece of writing, while I
am also zealous of getting knowledge.
Hello, I enjoy reading through your post. I like to write a little comment to support you.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts.
In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I
hope you write again soon!
Very quickly this website will be famous amid
all blogging visitors, due to it’s good articles or reviews
What’s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this
I’ve discovered It absolutely useful and it has helped me out
loads. I hope to give a contribution & help other customers like its aided me.
Good job.
I was able to find good info from your content.
Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to say that I acquire actually loved account your weblog posts.
Anyway I’ll be subscribing in your feeds or
even I success you get right of entry to persistently quickly.
Tremendous things here. I am very satisfied to peer your post.
Thanks a lot and I’m taking a look forward to contact you. Will you please drop
me a mail?
I got this web page from my pal who informed me on the topic of
this web page and now this time I am browsing this site and reading very informative articles at this place.
We are a bunch of volunteers and starting a brand new
scheme in our community. Your site provided us with helpful info to work on. You have
done an impressive task and our entire community shall be grateful
to you.
Quality articles or reviews is the main to interest the visitors to go to see the web
site, that’s what this site is providing.
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my site thus
i came to go back the prefer?.I am attempting to in finding things to improve my site!I guess its ok
to make use of a few of your concepts!!
What’s up to all, how is all, I think every one is getting more from this
site, and your views are fastidious in support of
new people.
Definitely imagine that which you stated. Your favorite
justification appeared to be on the internet the easiest thing
to remember of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people think
about issues that they plainly don’t recognise about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the top and
also outlined out the entire thing with no need side effect , other people
could take a signal. Will probably be back to get more.
Thanks
Hi there, I want to subscribe for this web site to obtain most recent
updates, so where can i do it please help.
Also visit my web blog – poker online
Howdy just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few
of the pictures aren’t loading properly. I’m not sure why but
I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different browsers and
both show the same results.
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! However, how can we communicate?
For the reason that the admin of this website is working, no uncertainty very soon it will be well-known, due to its feature contents.
Hi, after reading this awesome paragraph i am too cheerful to share my knowledge here with friends.
It’s an remarkable paragraph in support of all the web users; they
will obtain advantage from it I am sure.
Neat blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from
somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog jump out.
Please let me know where you got your design. Appreciate it
Hello there! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO?
I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords
but I’m not seeing very good results. If you know of any please share.
Thanks!
You’ve made some good points there. I checked on the internet for additional information about the issue and
found most people will go along with your views on this website.
After exploring a handful of the articles on your web page, I honestly like your way of blogging.
I bookmarked it to my bookmark site list and will
be checking back in the near future. Please visit my web site
too and tell me your opinion.
I am really happy to glance at this web site posts which consists of plenty of
valuable information, thanks for providing these statistics.
I have been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally,
if all web owners and bloggers made good content
as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.
If some one needs to be updated with most up-to-date technologies then he must be pay a visit
this site and be up to date daily.
Today, I went to the beach with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and
said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to
her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her
ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely
off topic but I had to tell someone!
Good way of telling, and fastidious post to obtain information regarding my presentation topic, which i am
going to deliver in university.
Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you can be
a great author. I will ensure that I bookmark your
blog and will often come back from now on. I want to encourage you continue your great writing, have a
nice holiday weekend!
Howdy! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that
would be ok. I’m undoubtedly enjoying your
blog and look forward to new updates.
I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your blog.
It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come
here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme?
Exceptional work!
Howdy, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just curious if you get a lot
of spam responses? If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything you can advise?
I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any support is very much appreciated.
You actually make it seem really easy together with
your presentation but I in finding this matter to be really something which I think I’d by no means understand.
It sort of feels too complex and very vast for me.
I am having a look ahead on your next post, I will try to get
the grasp of it!
Simply want to say your article is as astounding.
The clarity in your post is simply spectacular and i can assume you are an expert on this subject.
Fine with your permission let me to grab your feed
to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the gratifying
work.
I want to to thank you for this very good read!! I definitely enjoyed every bit of it.
I have you bookmarked to look at new things you post…
Very nice write-up. I definitely appreciate this site.
Keep writing!
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your blog.
It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did
you hire out a designer to create your theme?
Fantastic work!
Hello there! I just wish to offer you a huge thumbs up for your excellent information you have got here on this post.
I will be coming back to your web site for more soon.
Very descriptive article, I liked that bit.
Will there be a part 2?
An intriguing discussion is worth comment. I think that you need to write more about this
subject matter, it may not be a taboo subject but usually people don’t discuss these issues.
To the next! Cheers!!
Simply want to say your article is as amazing. The clearness in your post is simply nice and i could assume
you are an expert on this subject. Well with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep updated with
forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the enjoyable work.
Thanks for your personal marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it,
you can be a great author.I will always bookmark your blog and will come back at some point.
I want to encourage yourself to continue your great
posts, have a nice holiday weekend!
Good day! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog.
Is it difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but
I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about making my own but
I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any points or suggestions?
Many thanks
Nice blog here! Also your website loads up fast! What web host
are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host?
I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours
lol
I was excited to uncover this page. I wanted to thank you
for ones time for this fantastic read!! I definitely appreciated every bit of it and i also have you book-marked to see new information in your
web site.
I’m not sure exactly why but this weblog is loading incredibly slow for me.
Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my end?
I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.
whoah this weblog is fantastic i like studying your articles.
Stay up the great work! You know, a lot of persons are searching around for this information, you can aid
them greatly.
I’m not sure the place you are getting your information, however good topic.
I needs to spend some time finding out more or working out more.
Thank you for great info I used to be on the lookout for
this info for my mission.
Hi there, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just curious if you get a lot of spam
feedback? If so how do you stop it, any plugin or anything you
can suggest? I get so much lately it’s driving me mad so any assistance
is very much appreciated.
Hurrah! At last I got a weblog from where I be
able to actually obtain valuable data regarding my study and knowledge.
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well
written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to read more
of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly comeback.
This design is wicked! You certainly know how to keep a
reader amused. Between your wit and your videos,
I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!)
Excellent job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how
you presented it. Too cool!
Its like you read my mind! You seem to grasp a lot approximately this, such
as you wrote the book in it or something. I believe that
you can do with a few percent to power the message home a little bit,
however other than that, this is great blog. An excellent
read. I’ll certainly be back.
I just could not depart your site prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard information a person provide on your guests?
Is going to be again often in order to check out new posts
Its like you learn my thoughts! You appear to grasp so much
about this, such as you wrote the e book in it or something.
I feel that you could do with some p.c. to power the message house a little bit, but other than that, this is fantastic blog.
A fantastic read. I will certainly be back.
Excellent post! We are linking to this particularly
great content on our website. Keep up the great
writing.
Just wish to say your article is as amazing. The clarity
in your post is just excellent and i can assume you are an expert on this
subject. Fine with your permission allow me to grab your RSS
feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please continue the gratifying work.
Excellent way of explaining, and fastidious article to take data on the topic of my presentation topic, which i am
going to present in university.
Hello to every body, it’s my first visit of this blog; this weblog includes
amazing and actually good data in support of readers.
Excellent blog here! Also your web site loads up very fast!
What web host are you using? Can I get your
affiliate link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol
I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your blog. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to
come here and visit more often. Did you hire
out a developer to create your theme? Excellent work!
Thank you a lot for sharing this with all of us you actually
recognise what you’re talking about! Bookmarked.
Kindly additionally visit my site =). We will have a hyperlink exchange arrangement
among us
local dating sites free dating free site free
and best totally free dating websites free dating sex sites