Nida Manzoor's debut feature film gives off strong Bend It Like Beckham vibes, yet it stays unique in how it chooses to tell the story. The sisters (played by Priya Kansara and Ritu Arya) are total showstealers and I enjoyed both their performances. People aren't wrong in saying Polite Society looks straight out of Edgar Wright's playbook - it features rich and opaque frames, the presence of absurd humour (there's an entire fight scene between the sisters in the house, and none of the wounds from it show in the subsequent scenes), quirky edits & slo-mos, some flashy typeface, and the effective use of music - the only thing missing was a Simon Pegg cameo.
The reason why the writing works as much for men as it does for women is because it showcases the leading ladies (and their companions) thinking, reacting, and responding exactly how male characters would, in these overly cinematic situations. In some ways, it comes across as a sweet little 2000s throwback action-comedy, perceived through the quintessential feminist lens.
The reason why the writing works as much for men as it does for women is because it showcases the leading ladies (and their companions) thinking, reacting, and responding exactly how male characters would, in these overly cinematic situations. In some ways, it comes across as a sweet little 2000s throwback action-comedy, perceived through the quintessential feminist lens.