Polite Society

Fearing a sinister conspiracy, Ria Khan decides that in order to save her older sister Lena, she must stop her sister’s impending marriage from happening, all in the name of independence and sisterhood. And martial arts.

Polite Society is writer/director Nida Manzoor’s feature film directorial debut. She is also responsible for the series “We Are Lady Parts,” which follows the formation of an all-women, all-Muslim punk band, which is streaming on Peacock and Apple, which I loved and totally recommend. Just fyi.

So anyway, Polite Society is a mix of genres.

Set in London, it is a mystery film, a heist film, a family comedy, and also a drama, with a bit of sci-if stuff mixed in, as well as a ton of martial arts… all to tell the story of Ria, a rebellious teenage wanna-be stuntwoman who believes that her art school drop-out older sister Lena’s fiancé and his mother have ill intentions towards Lena, and in a secret underground lab kind of way too. When no one else will believe her, Ria decides that she must save Lena from her impending marriage on her own, regardless of what her sister and parents have to say about it. With the help of her friends, Ria comes up a daring plan. They’re gonna pull off a heist… by stealing the bride… on the day of her wedding… all under the very mean, very watchful eye of the groom’s evil mother…

They’re willing to punch their way out too, if they need to.

And they do.

I’m a huge fan of Ritu Arya. I’ll watch pretty much anything with her. She can do this cocky smirk… love it. She plays the power mimic Lila Pitts on Umbrella Academy, and there’s a scene in the seventh episode of the third season, where her character is hiding out in West Berlin in 1989, and absolutely rocks out on the drums while playing in a punk band—which is really her playing the drums too—and it’s… amazing.

She’s plays Lena in this film, the older sister, and like always, she’s fantastic here.

But it’s Priya Kansara, as the headstrong and rebellious and always ready to throw down little sister, Ria, who really carries the film. She’s only been in a couple of things before this film, and this is her first lead, but I expect to see more of her. She has some real physical chops, as well as great comedic timing, and her ability to clearly project here that her character’s stubborn refusal to be dissuaded from her path is due mostly to her own fear of failure, as well as a fear of her own future being hemmed-in by the kind of reasons that many first generation children of immigrant parents would probably recognize, is perfectly done.

Loved it.

Funny and sweet, with some great over-the-top fights, Polite Society is about the power of familial bonds, about next steps and growing up, as well as a critique of the regressive expectations of a gendered society. Ria’s fight to liberate her sister is not just a rescue mission, it’s also a symbolic overthrowing of the patriarchy… and it’s all done in a wild-ass kung fu fight kind of way. This was an unexpected and fun film, one that is definitely worth watching, and one of my favorites of the year.

Super funny. Kicks ass.

Big thumbs up.