It’s easy to miss movies and series when they first air with the large amount of content available to us every day, but thankfully it’s also now easier than ever to find them again.
One of the biggest hidden gems of recent years was In Camera, a 2023 film by Naqqash Khalid, which served as his directorial debut. The film, which follows the surreal dreams of a struggling actor, is now available to stream in its entirety on the BBC iPlayer.
The unique film’s synopsis reads: “Twenty-something Aden (Nabhaan Rizwan) dreams of becoming a successful actor, but the nightmarish grind of the audition circuit, with its callous rejections and upsetting micro-aggressions, is starting to take its toll. It doesn’t help that his junior doctor flatmate Bo (Rory Fleck Byrne) is also stressed to the point of burnout. But when self-assured fashion and lifestyle guru Conrad (Amir El-Masry) moves in, his optimism and confidence inspires Aden to take it upon himself to find a new part to play.
“Full of pointed observations about an industry rife with prejudice and hypocrisy, In Camera deploys elements of surrealism and fantasy to trace how its young British-Asian protagonist’s sense of self is affected by the tokenism of a world he hopes to conquer. Candid and funny, with an unsettling eye for the warped and bizarre, it’s a playful, stylish satire, not just of showbiz, but also of how the myriad absurdities of modern British life have created a new generation of anxious young men.”
It concludes by saying: “With a complex and supple central performance from rising star Rizwan and a soundtrack by Clark, this debut film from director Naqqash Khalid heralds an exciting new voice in British cinema.”
Who stars in In Camera?
The film has a stellar cast, being led by Nabhaan Rizwan (Informer), Amir El-Masry (The Crown) and Rory Fleck Byrne (Vampire Academy). Also starring in In Camera are Aston McAuley (Rocketman), Josie Walker (Call the Midwife) and Antonio Aakeel (Three Girls).
Rounding out the cast are Shahid Ahmed (28 Weeks Later), Jamie Ballard (The Merchant of Venice), Gana Bayarsaikhan (Intelligence), Clare Burt (Holby City), Sarah-Jane Potts (Waterloo Road) and Hussina Raja (Zoo-Head).
What did fans make of In Camera?
In Camera has been welcomed by both fans and critics, with one viewer penning: “What’s more, Khalid, is both thoughtful and courageous in how humour is interwoven among the many themes that some find challenging to present In Camera. A brilliant debut from a very passionate, dedicated and gracious person and creator.”
A second commented: “The atmosphere, the aesthetic precision, and its original premise make In Camera a singular – if flawed – cinematic experience,” although a third joked that the film ended up being too “high brow” for them.
© Alamy Stock PhotoWriting in The Guardian, Cath Clarke mused: “In Camera is the kind of ambitious intelligent cinema that invites your most mulled-over theories. It will exasperate some; others will be engrossed by an intriguing movie.”
Meanwhile, Variety’s Guy Lodge posted: “It’s a passive-aggressive tour de force that ought to put the star, hitherto best known for secondary roles in Mogul Mowgli and TV’s Station Eleven, at the top of more casting directors’ lists. Still, In Camera’s satire strikes a dry cautionary note about the perils of a raised profile.”
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