This third feature film from Welsh/Egyptian filmmaker Sally El-Hosaini continues her concern with gender/sexual identity that she explored so beautifully in My Brother The Devil. She has also set UNICORNS in present day UK where the younger members of immigrant families feel stuck in the middle of two different cultures that are unsure of how to relate too.
Ben Hardy is Luke, a straight white mechanic struggling to bring up his five-year-old son as a single dad. On a rare night out in London’s East End he accidentally finds himself in a gay asian club, and finds himself kissing who he thinks is the most beautiful woman in the room. Actually she is Aysha (Jason Patel) a stunning looking drag queen. When Luke realises this he is appalled , but Aysha is totally smitten.
A few days later when she tracks down the garage where Luke works as, Aysha talks him into becoming her driver to take her to lucrative private Asian parties where she is hired to dance. He agrees because he needs the generous pay she is offering, but also there is an attraction between the two of them that he is both baffled and also curious about.
The story may seem like a straightforward budding unorthodox. romance but El-Hosani and writer James Krishna Floyd are determined to pepper the script with explanations of expressions such as ‘tranny’ . They are also committed to ensure that like the two young leads we are open to the possibility of relationships that are becoming the new norm.
The journey these two take has more than its share of roller coaster moments but thanks to their first class performances we never doubt their authenticity . No spoilers here to the plots twist ad turns, although we will tell you there are times you may find yourself grabbing for a tissue of two
One of the things that impacted us most about Unicorns is the timing of its release. This present political climate, with its undisguised racism, homophobia and transphobia, needs us to be aware and accept all the sheer joys of our cultures positive differences, and embrace them so much more .
Labels: 2024, Ben Hardy, Jason Patel, review, romance, Sally El Hosaini, Unicorns
