Movie Review: 'Unicorns'

Can a straight, white English auto mechanic find real love with a gay, Indian Muslim drag entertainer? Time will tell.

Luke (Ben Hardy) works at his lazy father’s ramshackle car repair shop. It’s not a particularly rewarding career, but it keeps him in spending money and gives him something to do. His wife disappeared, leaving him to raise their five-year-old rather rebellious son.

His sexual encounters with women are arranged through his Tinder account, taking place in varied locations – once in an open field during daylight hours.

Aysha/Ashiq’s (Jason Patel) job is to arrange inventory in the back room of a retail store. He occasionally stocks merchandise in the cosmetic department where he delights in offering beauty advice to customers.

By night, he becomes another person, both in appearance and demeanor. He dons elaborate costumes and makeup to entertain in London’s East End gay clubs. He and his fellow entertainers are also frequently invited to perform at private parties in palatial homes outside of town.

After an uninspiring sexual encounter in a field near work, Luke returns to the shop for the remainder of the boring day. On his way home, he stops by a takeaway for a bite to eat. Before heading home, he needs to use the loo and heads downstairs to find it.

He is curious to see a door next to it and decides to find where it leads. Bang! The noise, bright lights and screaming crowd in the club are overweening. He decides to enter and soon makes eye contact with one of the beautiful alluring entertainers – Ashiq. The flirty Ashiq spots him immediately and after finishing her dance number heads his way.

They sense an immediate connection, and after a brief conversation in the chaotic noisy club, decide to continue outside. They share personal stories sinking deeper and deeper into intimacy. The interaction becomes so intense that they decide to kiss.

Parting from their tongue-tango, Luke notices Ashiq has an Adam’s apple – he’s a he, not a she! He hastily wipes his mouth and dashes for the exit. Ashiq is as puzzled as she is hurt by his departure; but not ready to give him up yet. Days later Ashiq appears at Luke’s repair shop.

Directed by Sally El Hossaini +1 (Credits: “The Swimmers,” “Babylon”), “Unicorns” runs 119 minutes and is a “see” for an unusual, beautifully told love story with many surprising twists and turns in the plot.