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Layla

Play trailer Poster for Layla Released Mar 21 1h 40m Comedy Drama Romance LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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87% Tomatometer 30 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Layla is a struggling Arab drag queen 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 catch the eye of marketing executive Max, whose attentions sweep Layla off their feet. The two start an intoxicating romance, but as Layla starts to alter who they are in order to keep Max's interest, they both have to face uncomfortable truths.
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Layla

Critics Reviews

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Marina Ashioti Little White Lies Amrou Al-Kadhi’s debut trades in any unique qualities that a queer film can exhibit in terms of form and content, with the tried and tested formula of the palatable, cheesy odd couple romance. Rated: 2/5 Dec 11, 2024 Full Review Kevin Maher Times (UK) It’s a bland, flip-flopping central romance, topped off with some sub-Oprah sentiment about self-empowerment. Rated: 2/5 Nov 27, 2024 Full Review Wendy Ide Observer (UK) Layla has found their tribe -- and it’s here that first-time director Amrou Al-Kadhi, also a drag artist, excels, capturing the sparkling, sensual spectacle of the queer club circuit. Rated: 4/5 Nov 25, 2024 Full Review Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall Writer-director Amrou Al-Kadhi refreshingly resists creating characters who are easy to pigeon-hole, and situations don't resolve themselves in tidy ways we've grown to expect on-screen. Rated: 4/5 Mar 20, 2025 Full Review John Noonan FILMINK (Australia) … a daring film that not only explores queerness from a Non-Western perspective but also challenges the norms of how LGBT characters are portrayed in mainstream media. It's a joy to watch. Rated: 16/20 Jan 31, 2025 Full Review Maria Lattila Film Stories It’s charming and raises some interesting themes about queer identity and families, both chosen and biological, but the script could have done with another go to provide some more thematic clarity and smooth it out a little. Rated: 3/5 Dec 19, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews
Layla

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Movie Info

Synopsis Layla is a struggling Arab drag queen 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 catch the eye of marketing executive Max, whose attentions sweep Layla off their feet. The two start an intoxicating romance, but as Layla starts to alter who they are in order to keep Max's interest, they both have to face uncomfortable truths.
Director
Amrou Al-Kadhi
Producer
Savannah James-Bayly
Screenwriter
Amrou Al-Kadhi, Amrou Al-Kadhi
Distributor
Gravitas Ventures
Production Co
AUM Group, Film4, British Film Institute
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Romance, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 21, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 28, 2025
Runtime
1h 40m
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