As a rule, I never interview someone whose film I have yet to watch. But when I sat down with Floyd, boy was I glad I bent the rules!
Unicorns marks the third collaboration between Sally El Hosaini and James Krishna Floyd. In the previous two, Floyd acted in films that El Hosaini directed — the 2012 My Brother the Devil, which won several awards including Best Cinematography at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and Best European Film at the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival — and last year’s Syrian Olympian sisters Netflix drama for The Swimmers.
This time around, the duo become a proper directing team, with Floyd having contributed the story and script as well. The film stars
Ben Hardy, Hannah Onslow and Jason Patel in a story which follows the meeting of a queer South Asian nightclub performer living a double life, and a young, single father who works as a mechanic in Essex. As the duo embark on their unorthodox friendship, a search for identity begins.
The film received stellar reviews after its premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival and then it screened at the BFI London Film Festival, where more accolades were garnered.
It is easy to understand why, as Floyd and El Hosaini have formed a cultural partnership which transcends the filmed projects they collaborate on and have now forged a path of true creativity which is both priceless and iconoclastic.
I’ll leave you with James Krishna Floyd and his lovely interview. And I’ll just add that sometimes people are as lovely as they seem. Even in real life.
Top image courtesy of the BFI London Film Festival, used with permission.