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‘Layla’ Review: A London Drag Queen Vacillates Between Identities in Amrou Al-Kadhi’s Uneven Debut
Premiering in Sundance's World Dramatic competition, Amrou Al-Kadhi's 'Layla' is a fascinating character portrait that never gets specific enough.
In the film’s first half, Hasna comfortably fills the screen with Layla’s exuberance and joie de vivre; the star’s charming duet with Greatorex demonstrates how innocent and exciting new romance can be. As the lovers keep arguing, breaking up and reconnecting, the performances become less affecting, hampered by serviceable dialogue that doesn’t support at the deep connection the script insists on. One of them, photographer Princy (Safiyya Ingar), briefly makes a mark in one scene, calling out Layla for always prioritizing straitlaced white lovers over their more diverse friends.
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