Kicking off Pride month, this year I decided to include LGBTQ films that don’t have audio description. The reason being is that a lot of them don’t have audio description. That’s what happens when the thing you make is essentially running counter culture to mainstream cinema. The same can certainly be said for other niche groups within independent film, but with queer cinema, it is possible to get circulation within the community. So, what about those who are LGBTQ and also blind and low vision? Are we stuck with just the mainstream offerings like Queer or Bottoms?

Layla is a bold British drama about a Muslim drag queen who seeks out their identity, apart from the social construct set by growing up in a Muslim household, and also finding that spark of potential in relationships. Layla is comfortable in their friend circle, and when they meet a gay, slightly more strait laced masculine type, Layla finds themselves having to change parts of themselves. But, not what this film does so well is use this as less of a rejection of this specific relationship, and more as a reflective look at how we communicate with our partners when we are and are not uncomfortable, and how far we’re willing to put ourselves in a box just to not potentially cause conflict. Layla’s new boyfriend isn’t an asshole, but feels like one, only out of Layla not knowing how to communicate their needs. In one scene, he misgenders his partner, not realizing Layla uses they/them pronouns, because they never brought it up. So to Layla’s friends, he looks inconsiderate, but the reality is it is just this discovery process these young folk are going through. It’s a lovely story I just wish had audio description.

Without accessibility, I never know what Layla’s outfits are like, their performances, the club sequences, and the sex scenes, because they are all visual cues, or scenes with nominal or no dialogue. Laya al was a tough watch as a result, even though I think the film beneath has something to say that is relevant in terms of pride month. Especially at a time when so many are considering drag queens as villains, and fighting hard to never know what pronoun a person would prefer. Layla is forward thinking, but not enough to include accessibility.

Final Grade: Fresh: 6.5/10