Layla (film)

Layla
Cast and crew at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Directed byAmrou Al-Kadhi
Written byAmrou Al-Kadhi
Produced bySavannah James-Bayly
CinematographyCraig Dean Devine
Edited byFiona Brands
Music by
  • CJ Mirra
  • Ariyan Mehedi
Production
companies
  • BFI
  • Film4
  • Fox Cub Films
  • Significant Productions
Release date
  • 18 January 2024 (2024-01-18) (Sundance)
[1]
Running time
99 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Layla is a 2024 British romance film written and directed by Amrou Al-Kadhi in their feature directorial debut.

Premise

While navigating their identity around friends and family, Layla, a non-binary British-Palestinian drag queen living in London, falls in love with Max, an advertising executive.

Cast

Production

Savannah James-Bayly produced the film for Fox Cub Films. Executive producers include Farhana Bhula of Film4, Kristin Irving of BFI, Mary Burke of Public Dreams, and Nina Yang Bongiovi and Forest Whitaker of Significant Productions. Principal photography took place in East London over six weeks and wrapped in December 2022.[2][3]

Release

Film4 holds the UK and Ireland TV distribution rights. A first look image was shared in December 2022.[4] Layla was selected by the BFI and British Council for the Great8 showcase at the 2023 Cannes Marché.[5]

The film premiered in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.[6]

Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 88% "Fresh" score, based on 25 critic reviews with an average rating of 6.5/10.[7] Fionnuala Halligan of Screen International wrote, "At times, Al-Khadi’s film feels like a torrent of pent-up expression, yet more often reads as a tender yearning."[8] Ryan Lattanzio of IndieWire wrote, "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."[9] In a negative review, Kevin Maher of the The Times wrote, "It’s a bland, flip-flopping central romance, topped off with some sub-Oprah sentiment about self-empowerment."[10]

Images from the 2024 Sundance Film Festival screening of Layla:

  • Writer and director Amrou Al-Kadhi
    Writer and director Amrou Al-Kadhi
  • Lead actor Bilal Hasna
    Lead actor Bilal Hasna
  • Lead actor Louis Greatorex
    Lead actor Louis Greatorex

References

  1. ^ "Layla". 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  2. ^ Dalton, Ben (1 December 2022). "Amrou Al-Kadhi's queer love story 'Layla' wraps UK shoot for Film4, BFI; first-look revealed (exclusive)". Screen International. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  3. ^ Godfrey, Jake (8 December 2022). "British romance Layla wraps production in London". Film Stories. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  4. ^ Iftikhar, Asyia (2 December 2022). "British-Iraqi drag performer Amrou Al-Kadhi shares first look at 'radical' queer love story Layla". Pink News. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  5. ^ Tabbara, Mona (9 May 2023). "'Chuck Chuck Baby', 'Starve Acre', 'Layla' among UK's Great 8 showcase at Cannes 2023". Screen Daily. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  6. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (6 December 2023). "Sundance Unveils Packed 2024 Lineup That Includes A.I., Pedro Pascal, Kristen Stewart, Satan, Devo & Steven Yeun". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Layla". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  8. ^ Halligan, Fionnuala (2024-01-18). "Layla: Sundance Review". Screen International. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
  9. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (2024-01-18). "Layla Review: An Arab Drag Queen Gets Lost and Found in a Feel-Good but Frustrating Queer Romance". IndieWire. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
  10. ^ Maher, Kevin (2024-11-22). "Layla review — a flimsy, awkward drag queen love story". The Times. Retrieved 2024-11-30.