The story of Layla, 18, who becomes involved with a Muslim group and flees from the Netherlands to the Middle East — only to face an impossible choice. Layla, 18, born and raised in Amsterdam, is bright, moody, and headstrong, with Moroccan roots. In times of terrorist threats, she feels the suspicion of Dutch society. Her frustration deepens her faith, and she joins a Muslim group campaigning for Islamic interests. Layla posts videos online and creates political flyers about the horrors in Syria and the atrocities in Gaza. At the same time, she flirts with the charismatic Abdel, whom she marries. Together they flee to the Middle East. Layla enters a world that confronts her with an impossible decision. Released in 2016 and directed by Mijke de Jong, LAYLA M. became one of the most internationally discussed Dutch films of recent years. It competed at the Toronto International Film Festival and screened at the BFI London Film Festival and the Dubai International Film Festival. The film was the Netherlands’ official submission for the 2018 Oscars in the “Best Foreign Language Film” category. Presented as a co-production with Chromosom Film at the 2018 German Film Awards, it received wide acclaim for its sensitive direction and the intense performance of lead actress Nora El Koussour, a multiple award winner. LAYLA M. impresses with its clear visual language, powerful performances, and the courage to illuminate social tensions in nuanced ways — a film about self-determination, faith, and the price of personal conviction.
Keywords
- Dutch Cinema
- Dutch drama
- Nederlands Film Festival
- family
- migration
- relationship
- religion
- women
Actors
- Nora El Koussour
- Ilias Addab
- Hassan Akkouch
- Yasemin Cetinkaya
- Husam Chadat
- Sachli Gholamalizad
- Karl Ferlin
Director
- Mijke de Jong
Drama
1h 40min
AR
NL
A young Muslim woman flees from the Netherlands to the Middle East.
A young Muslim woman flees from the Netherlands to the Middle East.
The story of Layla, 18, who becomes involved with a Muslim group and flees from the Netherlands to the Middle East — only to face an impossible choice.
Layla, 18, born and raised in Amsterdam, is bright, moody, and headstrong, with Moroccan roots. In times of terrorist threats, she feels the suspicion of Dutch society. Her frustration deepens her faith, and she joins a Muslim group campaigning for Islamic interests. Layla posts videos online and creates political flyers about the horrors in Syria and the atrocities in Gaza. At the same time, she flirts with the charismatic Abdel, whom she marries. Together they flee to the Middle East. Layla enters a world that confronts her with an impossible decision.
Released in 2016 and directed by Mijke de Jong, LAYLA M. became one of the most internationally discussed Dutch films of recent years. It competed at the Toronto International Film Festival and screened at the BFI London Film Festival and the Dubai International Film Festival. The film was the Netherlands’ official submission for the 2018 Oscars in the “Best Foreign Language Film” category. Presented as a co-production with Chromosom Film at the 2018 German Film Awards, it received wide acclaim for its sensitive direction and the intense performance of lead actress Nora El Koussour, a multiple award winner. LAYLA M. impresses with its clear visual language, powerful performances, and the courage to illuminate social tensions in nuanced ways — a film about self-determination, faith, and the price of personal conviction.