Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Layla is a drama about a non-binary drag queen who falls in love with an advertising executive.
Layla (Bilal Hasna) lives in London surrounded by like-minded people who appreciate their creativity and desire to live as their true self. To their friends, they are the uncompromising and outspoken Layla, but to Layla’s family, they are Latif, the conventional Palestinian son. When Layla is hired to host a corporate Pride function and discovers that they’re not being paid as expected, Layla takes a stand and speaks their mind while smearing meat all over themselves.
All the executives stare in shock, unable to understand what’s going on, except Max (Louis Greatorex), who is enjoying the spectacle. After the show, Max approaches Layla and praises their defiance. They talk, then Layla invites Max to a party. The two hit it off and soon start dating.
Layla’s friends warn them that Max may only see them as something new and unusual and leave once the newness wears off. However, Layla ignores their concerns and soon discovers that there is more than that standing in the way of their happiness.
Some Thoughts:
Layla does a good job showing realistic characters that are relatable and honest. The film looks good, the acting is decent, and the overall tone and pacing work. Both Hasna and Greatorex have the necessary chemistry to pull off their sudden relationship. Greatorex portrays Max as being almost starstruck by Layla. He looks at Layla as if they’re a mythical creature, and Layla is overjoyed with the attention. The dynamic works, making both characters relatable and human.
Although Layla is very much about what it means to be non-binary, the drama stems from Layle not being honest about themself and not necessarily how they identify. What makes this interesting is that both Max and Layla are flawed when it comes to being true to themselves. And while this is the film’s strength, it’s also its weakness.
Layla’s story is about cultural expectations, identity, and community. While the first two are fine, it’s the community portion isn’t explored enough. How much do Layla’s friends actually know about Laya’s relationship with their parents? Layla keeps the truth about their family a secret, but why do they go to this extreme? Also, does Layla give their friends the same reason for leaving their family that they gave to Max? While this didn’t ruin the movie for me, it was always in the back of my mind.
The film excels at showing the non-binary community without being preachy or over explaining. Because of that, the story has a natural progression.
The Final Verdict:
Layla is a well-made film about identity, dignity, and acceptance. Hasna gives a fine performance that makes a difficult character relatable.