POLITE SOCIETY: Film review
Why Nida Manzoor’s feature directorial debut kicks ASS.
Think of this, a wholesome, comedic, action-packed world filled with love, kung fu, and a nefarious scheme to stop an arranged marriage. Writer-director Nida Manzoor set the audience up for an intense ride with this coming-of-age film, Polite Society. Ria Khan (Priya Kansara), is a British-Pakistani teenager who is devastated by the fact that her older sister and best friend, Lena (Ritu Arya) is getting married. Which, in Ria’s head, Lena is abandoning her, alongside all of the dreams they were supposed to achieve together. Ria is constantly vlogging her stunts (with the help of Lena, who happens to be a chain smoking art school dropout), showcasing her talent, and trying to get the attention of her idol, famous stunt woman Eunice Huthart. Meeting Salim (Akshay Khanna) at an Eid shindig, Lena falls head over heels for the eligible and hottest bachelor in town, not realizing that there is a hidden agenda and weird mommy issues that are intertwined in the little bits of the relationship the audience sees between Salim, and his mom Raheela (Nimra Bucha). Ria hatches a master plan ruckus to put a halt to the wedding, that should never have even left the mind of Salim. Armored in her stubbornness and her drive, Ria does not take no for an answer and the audience has to love and appreciate that about her. Although she comes off as hard headed, there is absolutely no way one cannot fall into the goofiness of Ria’s life and her actions. The film touches upon a broad range of themes and topics, ranging from the complications of growing up, sticking up for yourself and what you believe in, school struggles, and on a more serious note, arranged marriage. Bringing range and comfort, Polite Society gives off Gen Z Scott Pilgrim for the masses.
Ria and Lena practicing her stunt skills for her vids.
The underlying thematics in the film and the intertwining of the character’s stories really help to establish the connection between the sisters. It is quite clear that since Lena had dropped out of art school and returned home depressed, Ria has become attached and dependent on her sister. But, who wouldn’t want to spend hours with their best friend doing the things they love? The two find themselves in a situation of inevitable separation, but Manzoor turns this into a sweet-natured drama, and her sharp writing layers fill the film with meaning. The question arises, is the departure truly what is breaking Ria? Or is it the idea that Lena abandons her self expression and her art? If Lena genuinely decides to toss her passions, where does that leave Ria with her stunt work? Manzoor brings on the high school coming-of-age tropes, and includes a bit of brash fantasy to spice up the mood.
Raheela and Ria going head to head in battle.
Each major character has some sort of intense knowledge of kung fu. Whenever there is any sort of quarrel, it ultimately ends in a brawl. Whether Ria is kicking through the air at Lena, battling her class nemesis Kovacs (Shona Babayemi), or taking down Salim’s iniquitous mother Raheela, a title card is promptly projected onto the screen, introducing the combatants, followed by the scrap itself. Each fighter’s style reflects who they are and their personalities, the way in which they come at Ria and their techniques can easily be matched up with how they are presented in the film. The fight between Ria and Raheela is truly fascinating, she dominates with practiced grace which one can only assume is due to her pompous status. Being the most powerful person in the film, socially and economically, she has a chokehold on all of the characters, especially Ria’s mom who is only looking for acceptance and approval from the mothers. Concluding the film with this scene, was an insanely big power move. It was the action sequence that everyone needed, not that there was a lack in action before.
Bursting with energy, burning desire, heart and fury, Ria showcases everything that anyone could ever want from a 16 year old coming-of-age protagonist. With each scene, the story gets more and more absurd. Manzoor brings to attention characters and culture that may not be commonly seen in other films in this genre, showcasing a fresh and fun new idea. In an interview with Cineuropa, Manzoor is asked “Did you grow up with this kind of film?” which is a loaded question, that stands tall and looms over any discussion of a film, but not with Polite Society. It is as inclusive, progressive, and open culturally as a film could be, taking place in Britain, with a Pakistani family, breaking boundaries of stereotypical themes and characters in this genre. She responds,
The movie mixes a lot of genres that I love. I grew up watching martial-arts and Jackie Chan movies. I remember I loved them so much. I watched a lot of Bollywood films and teen comedies, also. There were especially some American teen comedies that I loved. For Polite Society, I wanted to put all of this together and to put it something from a world that I know. I have never seen myself represented in the films I love, so it was a dream come true to make this movie.
It’s important to note her comment in the last sentence, which means, representation really matters. It is not often that one sees such a mix of cultures, a mix of beliefs - traditional vs. modern, the Gen Z mindset of doing directly what it is one likes, and not falling into the ploy of parents and school officials, who expect everything to happen their way. Telling the story of a South Asian girl, with the genre conventions and stereotypes of a coming-of-age action story, breaks and forms the genre at the same time. Manzoor in the interview elaborates futher that much of the story is based on her own personal experiences,
...my mother had a lot of pressure on her from society, which looked very closely at what we are doing. And it’s all about the idea of what it means to be a good girl. The character of Ria is almost a catharsis for me, since she is not the classical, well-behaved young woman that she is - and I am - supposed to be.
Manzoor touches base with the societal and cultural pressures that are placed upon young woman, and these are seen in all the woman in the film. This can be seen with Ria, who is being forced to embark on a career as a doctor by her teacher. However, she is not someone who just falls into the trap of what is expected of her, defying that she is determined to become a famous stunt woman in her noggin. Lena is a prime example of that as well, although she has her own issues at hand, she pursues art school, and she pursues a career that means something to her, and not what anyone else is projecting onto her.
Other women who fall into the stereotype, not being able to bend the mold as much, are their mother, Fatima (Shobu Kapoor), and Raheela. Fatima is portrayed by someone who to some extent is looking for societal validation, alongside acceptance from the other mothers in her neighborhood. This is seen by an interaction with all of the mothers at a luncheon, where they all gloat about their children, Raheela being the one with the most clout, and goated son. Fatima is put on the spot, being expected to showcase her children in a light that outshines the rest. But, to the others, the girls do not follow what they are expected to. And everyone very well knows that her children fall out of the stereotypical mold, not holding the ‘for display’ niceness and successes forced upon them by their parents.
This film gives everything one could ask for in a film that showcases the rough edges of living with a specific cultural and societal expectation that is placed upon one person, their family, and surrounding people. The mix of comedy, action, and coming-of-age is well rounded and gives the audience the ability to see into a life that is not their own, but filled with the mind and ideas of a rambunctious 16 year old girl, trying to save her sister, and her dreams. I walked into this movie, absolutely having no idea what the heck I was signing up for, and I walked out someone who may possibly have found one of their new favorite coming of age films. Having been shown at Sundance Film Festival in January of 2023, Polite Society had left an intriguing mark. When asking around, people have heard of it, not entirely knowing what it was about, reiterating they heard it was good. Good? Understatement. The mix of comedy, drama, action, growing up, parental issues, societal expectations, marriage, mental health, is all one could truly ask for. Ria really defies all that is expected of a girl, even with the mix of Gen Z humor and ideas, it really was a hit. Although she is the protagonist, Ria has to be the one that struck gold for me. Her power, strength, determination, and drive is truly inspiring. Her relentless behavior and ideas to save Lena’s art, to become a stuntwoman, to stop Salim, to kung fu fight everyone, INCREDIBLE. Although I missed out on the cool fighting when I was sixteen, I see a lot of myself in Ria, and I think that the emotional connection of determination was enough to make me fall in love with her character. Manzoor’s creation is fresh, it is a new take on what we have had, but with her own flair, and that’s what makes it kick-ass.
Vena, Teresa. “Nida Manzoor • Director of Polite Society.” Cineuropa , 9 Mar. 2023, ida Manzoor • Director of Polite Society. Accessed 28 Apr. 2023.
