It’s Pride month, and Layla, a non-binary Arab drag performer, has been booked to perform at a “diversity” event for a ready-meal company. The money is good, and they’re excited to bring their work to a new audience – but the corporate event is completely hollow, with the clientele seemingly more willing to support the rights of packeted Udon noodles than trans people. Layla is little more than a visual token of acceptance at an otherwise profoundly vapid event.
In spite of his professional loyalties, Max, a white cis-gender gay man who works for the company organising the event, is bewitched. As Layla makes a rapid exit, they bump into Max and the two unexpectedly hit it off – Layla ends up bringing Max to a queer sci-fi party that their close-knit crew are hosting. For Max it is like coming into a world of queerness he’s never had access to. When around someone like Layla, Max feels like he’s able to inhabit a totally new liberated persona.
The electrifying feature debut of one-to-watch director Amrou Al-Kadhi, this joyous celebration of queerness and cultural heritage boasts star-making performances from its central duo of Bilal Hasna and Louis Greatorex.