London Film Festival Day 7: The Birth Of A Nation, I Am Not A Serial Killer & Layla M

Director Mijke de Jong tackles the subject of religious radicalisation with tact and sensitivity in this engaging if occasionally meandering drama about a despondent young woman who finds herself becoming immersed in the world of Islamic extremism.

Nora el Koussour gives an impressive performance, her first ever, as the title character, who finds herself pushed away from her immediate friends and family by her seething anger at the perceived injustice she witnesses daily.

de Jong and co-writer Jan Eilander smartly take an observational approach to Layla's journey throughout the movie that refuses to flat-out judge but rather digs deep into the process through which a seemingly "normal" person can be dragged into a far more dangerous world.

Rating: While it isn't as startling and informative as it might first seem, the performances and high-drama nevertheless pay off in potent ways, and make this a valuable sit for anyone looking to learn more about religious fanaticism run amok. 6/10