Polite Society (2023)

Set in London's upper class Pakistani community, a teenager (Priya Kansara) who aspires to be a stuntwoman is livid when her older sister (an excellent Ritu Arya) forgoes art school to marry a handsome young doctor (Akshay Khanna). She plots to sabotage the marriage! Directed by Nida Manzoor in her film directorial debut. I greatly enjoyed the movie's first 45 minutes which had a foot in reality but in the film's last hour, it jumps the rails as it turns into a conspiracy sci-fi fantasy. At first I thought it was all in Kansara's mind but it eventually becomes clear that the film is serious. Which doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. Its "message" of girl power is to be admired and it was fun although I couldn't take the movie seriously anymore. Still, a feminist action comedy about Pakistani sisters is unusual enough to hold one's attention. An exuberant entertainment, there's even a token Bollywood number. With Nimra Bucha and Shobu Kapoor.