I Believe in Unicorns

In the quiet, leafy suburbs of Berkeley, a teenage freshman grapples with the weight of a family burden that feels far larger than her years. Her mother’s battle with a relentless illness and the lingering absence of a father who left before she could remember shape a world that feels both fragile and suffocating. To survive, she retreats into a richly imagined inner landscape, a place where ordinary moments shimmer with wonder and the promise of something more.

She shares this fragile reality with her steadfast best friend, Cassidy, whose loyalty offers a grounding anchor amid the turbulence. When she first notices the enigmatic skateboarder who roams the neighborhood park, Sterling appears as a living echo of the freedom she craves. Their connection sparks a tentative romance that feels like a portal to new possibilities, inviting her to imagine a future that diverges from the path she has always known.

The film drifts between the muted tones of everyday life and the vivid, almost tactile quality of the protagonist’s daydreams, weaving a mood that is simultaneously hopeful and tinged with melancholy. Its style balances gritty realism with lyrical escapism, reflecting the uneasy dance between the safety of the familiar and the allure of the unknown. As the teen navigates the complexities of first love, identity, and responsibility, the story gently probes the delicate balance between imagination and the harsh truths of growing up.

Underlying the narrative is a quiet tension: the promise of love and adventure stands against an ever‑present sense of uncertainty. The partnership with Sterling offers both a glimpse of liberation and a reminder that the world beyond her fantasies can be unpredictable. In this tender coming‑of‑age portrait, the audience is invited to linger in the space where hope flickers, dreams unfold, and the path to adulthood remains both inviting and unknowable.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 04:35