Polite Society - Film Review

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Polite Society is a refreshing take on the action genre with a riveting story that centres around family dynamics, tradition and the power of female relationships. Its hero is Ria, a teenage girl who dreams of becoming a stuntwoman, much like her idol Eunice Huthart. However, after her older sister Lena makes the hasty decision to marry a man after only a few dates, Ria sets out to stop the wedding, enlisting the help of her best friends.

At the heart of the story is the relationship between Ria and Lena. Like any siblings, Ria and Lena have their arguments, but as the children of immigrants, they have a strong bond and always look out for each other. While Lena is supportive of Ria's ambition of becoming a stuntwoman and helps her film videos for her YouTube channel, Ria is hopeful that Lena will return to creating art and won't "throw her life away" for some guy. Although the girls' parents were understanding about Lena's decision to enrol in art school, they were dismissive towards Ria's aspirations, urging her to become a doctor instead.



Ria also has a close friendship with Clara (Ella Bruccoleri) and Alba (Seraphina Beh), who add a comedic element to the film with their authentic London schoolgirl banter. Despite a minor disagreement, Clara and Alba are both ecstatic to help Ria on her mission to save Lena from her future husband, especially when the truth about the Shah family’s hidden agenda comes to light. The girls’ military approach to their task soon spirals out of control, ending in absolute mayhem. A particularly memorable scene is when the friends attempt to swipe Salim’s laptop from his gym locker to find ‘dirt’ on him, and Ria tries to distract him by getting a drink with him – and of course, Ria’s sister ends up finding out.



One thing that stands out during the film is the abundance of thrilling fight scenes and chase sequences, which feel like they're straight out of a comic book. As it so happens, Polite Society has been compared to Scott Pilgrim vs the World, due to its quirky humour and over-the-top combat sequences. Marvel is also mentioned several times throughout the film, further adding to its comic book feel, and Ria even calls herself 'The Fury', emphasising her determination to become a stuntwoman.

Having previously worked on the short-lived TV series We Are Lady Parts, Polite Society is director Nida Manzoor's film debut. The film showcases Manzoor's talent for storytelling and she draws inspiration from her own sister, who she describes as a "rebel covered in tattoos". As a young teenager, Manzoor experienced sibling rivalry herself, and she incorporates this into Ria and Lena’s relationship in the film.



From fighting the patriarchy to family dynamics, there's never a dull moment in Polite Society. It's a hilarious romp that gets more chaotic and bizarre as the story progresses. The 100-minute runtime is jam-packed full of humour, fight sequences and heartfelt moments, making the film appeal to both older and young audiences. Just when you think the film is heading in one direction, Manzoor takes a sudden turn and includes something completely unexpected.

Polite Society does have some similarities with Ms Marvel and Bend It Like Beckham, it's very much its own film, seamlessly blending the vibrancy of Bollywood cinema with the adrenaline of action movies and charm of coming-of-age tales. There’s even an underlying mystery and a venture into sci-fi. Polite Society is bound to be a standout from this year, along with other London-based dramas Rye Lane and What's Love Got to Do with It?


Polite Society is in cinemas now, so catch it on the big screen while you can!


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