Red-Barracuda
In this romantic drama a teenage girl embarks on a relationship with an older boy, a free spirit who she soon discovers has a darker violent side. She is a young girl with responsibilities beyond her age, such as looking after her disabled mother, so she wilfully disappears in her head into a fantasy world from time to time.This one could be filed under both the coming-of-age and road movie sub-categories. It has a protagonist who I did like and sympathise with. I felt the portrayal of the characters was quite realistic and there were many little moments which felt true to life. It does go into some disturbing areas it has to be said with a scene which amounted to sexual abuse, so it is a film with some darker aspects lurking below its sunny veneer. I think it was this visual side of things though which was the most impressive single aspect of this one though, with a look which reminded me of the warm glow of old photographs. It was quite beautifully done and there was quite a bit to enjoy from a visually aesthetic point-of-view. Ultimately, the content of the film itself was a bit too limited to truly make this one feel more than an interesting snapshot of something. Still, it was a fairly alluring snapshot all the same, and certainly had a distinctive look and feel to it.
Kelly Bachman
At the conclusion of this beautiful film, my first thought was "FINALLY." Finally, a teenage girl in a film who actually reminds me of my adolescent self, finally a teenage girl story that is reflective of real experiences which are very relatable for many women today.Leah Meyerhoff's direction was magical, and truly captured the perspective of a teenage girl. The acting was superb, and every scene animated or not was a piece of art. I could go on, but I'll end by noting that this film inspired me to want to tell real stories about women; stories that matter.Thank you Leah!
Mimi Leggett
Unicorns is a truly unique film. Its whimsical, yet bold aesthetic enhances the storyline, which diverges drastically from most coming of aged films about teenage girls. The creative and visually stunning special effects use light and stop motion in enchanting ways that depict Davina's internal condition with a relateable clarity. These magical realist representations illustrate the main character's psyche in a deep and intellectual way that female 16-year-old characters are unfortunately rarely endowed with in films. As someone who often gets bored visually with contemporary films, Unicorns kept me spellbound. It is a feast for the eyes. I had been able to see more films like it when I was 16, in which the story does not (Spoiler Alert) end predictably, with a romantic and heteronormative jaunt into the sunset.
msmanning
Leah Meyerhoff's transcendent, visceral, intimate examination of a young girl's heart- wrenching coming of age left me breathless. From the fanciful, fairy daydreams to the recklessness of adolescence, I felt like I was watching something from my own head. The fierce beauty of the world as seen through a girl's eyes. The understated poignancy of simple gestures, glances between mother and daughter. The ache for the exquisite: sunlight dancing in leaves, the bridge of a lovers nose. It's so rare to see a woman give life to what is inside her. We feel like we have to ask permission, and even when "granted", we play it safe, we give other people what we think they want. But Meyerhoff's unapologetic passion and ambition is empowering for women filmmakers everywhere. Her film is necessary and important, as is she.
AD
