History is not singular. Truth is not necessarily what is taught in school. We know that different experiences and perspectives are marginalized. With time, and with effort, a more accurate depiction of the past can be revealed. Dandelion is a film which achieves such a daring revelation. In the setting of 1970’s Los Angeles, an LGBT+ teen named Margaret navigates the foster care system alongside her social worker during an era when acceptance was not even a glimmer of hope. Written by Corey Pinchoff, directed by Fiona Obertinca, and produced by Tori Ichikowitz,Dandelion vibrates on the dual frequencies of hope and despair. Reminding us how far society has come while still cautioning that the potential for backsliding is all too available, Dandelion’s core is the common thread of the desire for a safe space and the sense of belonging. This film’s charismatic cast includes Ava Lalezarzadeh (of Netflix Primetime Emmy Award–Winning Series Big Mouth) as Margaret Levine, Butch Klein (of the iconic Primetime Emmy Award–Winning Series 24) as Richard, and Vic Michelis as Joyce Harris. Various awards from the Spokane International Film Festival, Brooklyn Film Festival, Burbank Film Festival, and numerous others speak to the profound impact Dandelion is having on audiences everywhere.
Two things can be true at the same time; while Dandelion is a queer story, it is also a universal human story. Corey Pinchoff’s incredible screenplay is the spark of creation for this film which presents the largely undiscussed efforts of the Youth Advocates and their radical underground operations. Working in tandem with local government, the Youth Advocates used their funds and abilities to help young people who were often placed in the foster care system specifically because of their sexual orientation. This story is not constructed around tropes or external expectations of what a “queer narrative” should be; it grows out of a deeply personal inquiry into identity, longing, and the fragile negotiations that queer individuals often perform in order to exist safely and fully in their own lives. The authenticity in Dandelion is rooted in the film’s creative DNA: the lived experiences, emotional landscapes, and nuanced observations that its writer and director brought into the writing process. Producer Tori Ichikowitz emphasizes, “We feel incredibly lucky to have this opportunity to shed a light on this beautiful piece of queer history, and thus have taken great care to make sure we are doing it right. We knew this meant having representation not just on camera but behind the camera as well. Eighty percent of the brilliant cast of Dandelion is queer. The crew in key roles were predominantly queer and women, as well. I knew that our responsibility as filmmakers was not just to the story we were telling but also to the essence of that story and who we worked with to tell it.”
The skilled craft of creating this film is equally impressive, manifesting a recreation of the 70s that is reminiscent of films like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Boogie Nights. From the wardrobe to the period cars even down to the snacks of the era, the immersion into the past feels effortless, thought it undoubtably was not. Notably, the production took the added effort of utilizing the perfect film grain effect to make it look as though Dandelion was filmed on period cameras. These various components are only effective if they seem natural. It’s almost impossible to truly appreciate how difficult it is to procure all of these elements that make this cinematic version of time travel possible. Producer Ichikowitz confesses, “The hours of research, of visiting various vintage car shows, the months of battle with different music licensing agencies to secure the rights for the perfect song, these can be taxing even when you love your job, but there are moments that hit you more profoundly. I remember the last moments we spent at the CBS Radford lot after our very last day of filming. We did an overnight shoot that day, which meant that as soon as we wrapped, I just stopped for a moment and watched the sunrise. Seeing the dawn over the top of this incredibly iconic sound stage that we filmed on, which is a huge part of Hollywood history, gave me such a feeling of accomplishment. It was just this moment of pure gratitude and awe at what our team had managed to create. We had all worked so hard, and given our blood, sweat, tears, and souls to this project. In this moment, it really allowed me to reflect on all of that and just be so thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of this incredible story.”
Dandelion is a film abundant in passion and energy. Until the creation of this film, there was only one newspaper article acknowledging the existence of the organization known as the Youth Advocates. The creation of this film tells their story and reminds the world that not all of history has yet been told, even though it deserves to be.
Writer : Basil Thomson
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