Polite Society

Movie Review

Nida Mansoor's We Are Lady Parts was unusual and refreshing television. Masculinity manages to balance comedy, emotion and entertainment with well-developed characters and relationships. It is not surprising that she was able to bring these features to the Polite Society. Director Nida's Polite Society highlights action, humor, and heart to the fore in a powerful directorial debut. Priya Kansara's excellent performance is an entertaining journey full of brotherly love and dynamic chaos.

Riya Khan, played by Priya Kansara, is a Pakistani British teenager who wants nothing more than to become a stunt woman. She takes martial arts classes and writes to famed stuntwoman Eunice Huthart about her aspirations. Rhea is so passionate about her goals that she even has her own YouTube channel to showcase her talents. She often seeks help from her elder sister Lena played by Ritu Arya, a down-on-her-luck art school dropout. When Lena meets and quickly gets engaged to Salim Shah, played by Akshay Khanna, a momma's boy and doctor from a rich family, Riya does everything possible to stop Lena from marrying him. Suspecting that something is wrong, Riya recruits her best friends Clara played by Serafina Beh, and Alba played by Ella Bruccolieri to help her on her mission.

Mansoor has made a sensational film that is expected to be a hit. The film is exceptional in building its characters and their relationships – Riya and Leena's sisterly relationship is particularly exceptional. It helps that Kansara and Arya have great onscreen chemistry and share a special bond that makes their relationship instantly believable. The film wouldn't be what it is without them and their relationship is at the heart of the story of polite society.

The film has such dynamism, there is never a dull moment. Mansoor's writing is sharp, witty, clever, and exciting. The writer and director marry the traditional ideas of marriage with a modern sensibility, turning certain things – soirees, pampering sessions, or weddings – upside down and turning them into something dangerous. Here, whatever a person's reputation is, everything is questionable. Polite Society contains many interpretations of women's bodies and attempts to control them without consent. The film tries its best to show how one woman's freedom can be truly liberating if it comes at the expense of another. The movie teaches that there is nothing wrong with the customs and behaviors of society.

What's more, one of the characters played by Nimra Bucha, Raheela, a Pakistani woman who is only looking for a bride for her beloved son, makes Riya's rival. Bucha had a great time in her role and perfected her villainous grin. The main attraction, of course, is the stunning Kansara as Priya. Blending these traits seamlessly with Priya's quirky and headstrong personality, the actress brings determination and confidence to her character. Priya loves fiercely and it shows in everything she does, even if she seems overwhelmed at times. Kansara brings the emotion, giving Mansoor's debut the emotional weight and warmth it needs.

The twists and turns of Polite Society's story are predictable and exciting, especially considering how straightforward the plot is at first. Mansoor brings together a mix of genres, from martial arts to comedy, and the film has everything, including Bollywood dance sequences that help heighten the tension. The action scenes themselves are well-choreographed and engaging. Some of them go on longer than necessary, but they're still a joy to watch, especially in the film's big finale.

With so much action and comedy, the polite Society has heart, style, and personality. The audience will definitely have a lot of fun watching it and will feel hot soon after.

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