Nida Manzoor is the creative mind behind the critically acclaimed comedy We are Lady Parts. She decided to make the plunge to the big screen with the upcoming film Polite Society, which she wrote and directed. At this year’s San Diego Asian Film Festival Spring Showcase, we received an advanced screening of the movie.
Ria Khan (Priya Kansara) is a teenager who aspires to become a professional stunt woman. Her ambitions put her into conflict with her traditional immigrant parents and also cause her to be an outcast at her school. The only source of support is from her older sister, Lena (Ritu Arya), who had a similar experience while she pursued a career as an artist. When Lena is swept off her feet by a suitor and becomes engaged, Ria decides to pull off a wedding heist with her friends to disrupt the nuptials.
Polite Society contains many of the same traits that make We are Lady Parts so enjoyable. It features an engaging story regarding women of color as they go against societal and cultural norms. The comedy is strong and Manzoor has a talent for smoothly transitioning between the everyday and the surreal, particularly with the action sequences. The third act goes to some dark and extreme places and it complements the outlandish nature.
Speaking of action, there are definitely films with quicker and smoother choreography, but the fight scenes are still exciting. They still manage to generate “Oh Sh*t!” moments and seem to mesh well with the humor. It’s quite an impressive feat for actresses and a filmmaker you don’t consider the norm for the genre.
The casting choices all work in Polite Society. There are many amiable characters from Ria’s parents to her best friends. Big Bad Raheela, played by Nimra Bucha, is a standout. She is menacing, yet you can tell she is having fun in the role and playing up the campiness. Bucha can turn regular grooming practices into a diabolical torture sequence. How she balances the humor with the metaphorical mustache twirling villainy makes you realize how underutilized she was in Ms. Marvel.
However, what really drives Polite Society is the relationship between the two sisters. Both Kansara and Arya play well off of each other. It’s an interesting dynamic considering Ria projects much of her insecurities and issues upon her sibling, making her anti-wedding crusade that much more personal. However, it’s also Ria’s love for her sister that drives her actions. Their bond might be a source of conflict, but also brings much of the heart.
Polite Society is an enjoyable time filled with action, laughs, and a whole lot of heart.
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