Dream to Believe is a touching drama film directed by Paul Lynch, released in 1986. The movie follows the story of Robin Crew (played by Olivia d'Abo), a young gymnast with a talent for vaulting. Despite her potential, Robin is plagued by a difficult family life and a lack of support from her coaches. However, she finds inspiration and encouragement from the new boy at school, James (played by Keanu Reeves).
The film opens with Robin performing a stunning vault routine, which she executes flawlessly. However, as soon as she lands, she is greeted with disapproving glares from her mother, who is clearly unimpressed with her daughterâs accomplishments. Later on, we learn that Robinâs father has passed away and her mother is struggling to make ends meet. She often takes out her frustrations on Robin, belittling her achievements and insisting that she focus on more practical matters like finding a job.
At school, Robin is often bullied by her classmates, who tease her for her athletic build and shy demeanor. It is there that she meets James, a rebellious motorcycle rider who takes an immediate liking to her. James is unlike anyone Robin has ever met, and she is drawn to his devil-may-care attitude and sense of adventure. James takes Robin on a wild ride on his motorcycle, which exhilarates and terrifies her at the same time.
As Robinâs gymnastics coach (played by Dee Wallace) becomes increasingly demanding, Robin suffers a series of falls during practice. She becomes frustrated and feels like sheâs not making any progress. At home, things are even worse. Her mother pressures her to abandon her gymnastics dreams and focus on getting a job to help with the bills.
Despite these setbacks, Robin continues to attend practice every day, determined to become a better gymnast. It is then that she meets Beth (played by Janet-Laine Green), a woman who runs a gymnastics school for underprivileged kids. Beth takes Robin under her wing, and together they work on perfecting Robinâs vault routine. Robin begins to regain her confidence and starts to see improvements in her performance.
Meanwhile, James continues to be a positive influence in Robinâs life. He encourages her to stand up for herself and embrace her individuality, which inspires her to start wearing makeup and experimenting with new hairstyles. Robin begins to see that James is more than just a rebel; he is a kindhearted person who truly cares for her.
As Robinâs competition approaches, tensions begin to rise between her and her mother. Her mother becomes increasingly hostile and unsupportive, telling Robin that she will never be good enough. However, with the help of her coach, Beth, and James, Robin manages to push past her fears and performs a beautiful routine at the competition.
The film ends with Robinâs mother begrudgingly congratulating her on her performance, and Robin realizing that she no longer needs her motherâs approval to feel good about herself. She has found her own sense of self-worth through her love of gymnastics and her budding relationship with James.
Overall, Dream to Believe is a heartwarming and inspiring film that tackles themes of ambition, perseverance, and self-discovery. The movie portrays the struggles that come with pursuing your dreams and the importance of having a supportive community around you. Olivia d'Abo delivers a standout performance as Robin, portraying the character's initial shyness and insecurity with subtlety and nuance. Keanu Reeves also shines as James, bringing his trademark charisma and charm to the role. The film's themes are timeless and relatable, making it a must-see for anyone who has ever had a dream.
Dream to Believe is a 1986 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes.
