Unicorns

Luke (Ben Hardy) works hard as a mechanic alongside his idle dad. As a single father to his unruly 5-year-old son he has a lot of responsibility thrust upon his young shoulders. To let off steam, he has meaningless hookups with local women he meets on Tinder. But when he stumbles across an underground British Asian club in East London, he has a chance encounter with the alluring Aysha (Jason Patel). Aysha is flirty and fun. They have immediate chemistry and kiss. But when Luke realizes she’s not a woman, but a remarkably femme drag queen, he’s shocked and repelled. He leaves abruptly. Aysha is the drag persona of Ashiq, a closeted man who will do anything to keep his sexuality and double life hidden from his traditional Indian Muslim family. By day he works a dull retail job, to pay his rent. By night he performs as the charismatic Aysha, dancing in the secretive ‘gaysian’ scene.Luke is taken aback when Aysha shows up at the garage where he works. She offers him money to drive her to her night-time performances. Luke tentatively agrees as he needs the extra cash. Spending more time together they grow closer, giving each other a welcome distraction from the struggles of their domestic lives. As their friendship blossoms, their sexual chemistry grows. But how can they be together when Luke isn’t queer and Aysha isn’t straight? Do these labels matter - or even exist?Aysha and Luke fall in love by chance but will need to stay in love by choice. They both must face losing parts of themselves to gain each other. At its heart, Unicorns is about the price we pay to own ourselves. Co-directed by BAFTA nominated Sally El Hosaini— who made waves at last year’s Festival with opening film and Netflix hit The Swimmers — and BIFA winning filmmaker / actor James Krishna Floyd, Unicorns alternates between the thrill of raw desire, the gravity of familial responsibility and the transformative power of being seen for who you really are.