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Netflix has acquired international rights for Mijke de Jong's drama about a female Islamist who becomes disillusioned.

The Netherlands has picked Layla M., a hard-hitting drama about Islamic extremism, as its candidate for the 2018 Oscar race for best foreign-language film.

Directed by Mijke de Jong, Layla M. follows its titular character, a Dutch-Moroccan teenager who is radicalized by anti-Muslim measures in the Netherlands and becomes an Islamist. She marries a young jihadist and travels with him to join a terrorist cell in the Middle East. Once there, however, Layla is confronted by the contradictions, prejudices and dangers of her adopted community and begins to question her actions.

Layla M. premiered at last year's Toronto International Film Festival. Netflix snatched up international rights from world sales group Beta Film.

The Netherlands has been nominated for the foreign-language Oscar seven times and has won on three occasions: for Fons Rademakers's The Assault in 1986, for Antonia's Line from director Marleen Gorris in 1995 and in 1997 for Mike van Diem's Character.

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences will announce the nominees for best foreign-language film on Jan. 23, 2018. The 90th Oscars ceremony takes place March 4, 2018.

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