Layla

2024

1 hr. 40 min.

Comedy

Drama

LGBTQ+

Romance

List

93%

14 Reviews

Tomatometer

Layla is a struggling British-Palestinian drag performer whose confident façade hides their desperate desire for love. When their performance at a belittling corporate Pride event turns into a transgressive takedown, they are surprised to win the affection of Max, a charming, successful white gay man who is bewitched by Layla's power on stage. It sparks a thrilling romance from across the aisles of the LGBTQ+ community, as both Layla and Max negotiate how desire and identity can sometimes collide.

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Amrou Al-Kadhi

Director

Bilal Hasna

Actor

Louis Greatorex

Actor

Safiyya Ingar

Actor

Darkwah

Actor

Terique Jarrett

Actor

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Love, Simon

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for Love, Simon

71%

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Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

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for Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

90%

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Dear Ex

85%

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

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The Idea of You

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for The Idea of You

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Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

Amrou Al-Kadhi’s debut feature sizzles in multiple ways, as a sexy celebration of queerness and as a shout-out about our need to be true to ourselves wherever we go.

Jan 30, 2024

Full Review

William Bibbiani

TheWrap

A Sundance-friendly indie romance rich with specificity and led by what could, and by all rights should, be a breakout role for Bilal Hasna.

Jan 19, 2024

Full Review

Ryan Lattanzio

indieWire

An exuberant appreciation of queer life even as it skims the surface of weightier issues around identity. But even the most callous of hearts will find it hard to skirt the charms of this sensitive, well-acted, and confidently shot feature.

Rated: C+

Jan 19, 2024

Full Review

Kevin Wight

The Wee Review

There is grit in the cubic zirconia, through the intimate handheld lensing and the unfettered sexuality as well as the setting

Rated: 4

Feb 28, 2024

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Grace Han

Asian Movie Pulse

Al-Kadhi hits all the marks: from script to cast to costume, “Layla” is a delectable spectacle, offering up a joyous assortment of sensorial delights.

Rated: 4.5/5

Feb 21, 2024

Full Review

Peter Gray

The AU Review

As much drama Layla includes, it’s ultimately a love letter to the queer community, their defiance in owning their joy, and a mirthful representation of the art of drag performance.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 9, 2024

Full Review

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Synopsis

Layla is a struggling British-Palestinian drag performer whose confident façade hides their desperate desire for love. When their performance at a belittling corporate Pride event turns into a transgressive takedown, they are surprised to win the affection of Max, a charming, successful white gay man who is bewitched by Layla's power on stage. It sparks a thrilling romance from across the aisles of the LGBTQ+ community, as both Layla and Max negotiate how desire and identity can sometimes collide.

Director: Amrou Al-Kadhi
Executive Producer: Farhana Bhula, Louise Ortega, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Forest Whitaker, Kevin M. Lin, Michael Y. Chow, Mary Burke
Screenwriter: Amrou Al-Kadhi
Genre: Comedy, Drama, LGBTQ+, Romance
Original Language: English