For those that grew up in the nineties watching TV’s Gladiators, Eunice Huthart was a legend. The woman started out as a contender on the UK show, winning the series before repeating the same story on the international version of the show. Later, she made history by being the first, and only, contender to become a gladiator. After her time on Gladiators, Huthart went into the world of stunts, doubling multiple times for Angeline Jolie and providing work for massive film franchises including Star Wars, the MCU and James Bond. Huthart might not be a household name, but her career is celebrated in Nida Manzoor’s Polite Society.
In Polite Society, the Liverpudlian stunt-woman is the hero of teenager Ria Khan (Priy Kansara). Ria longs for a career in stunts and worships Huthart, writing her a series of letters expressing her desire to work alongside her one day. Ria’s dreams of turning her one woman stunt channel, Khan-Fu, into a real job are met with derision from those around her. Older sister Lena (Ritu Arya) however, is a firm supporter of her little sister’s aspirations. The two are best friends as well as sisters. When Lena suddenly starts dating a wealthy doctor and quickly becomes engaged, Ria is suspicious of the groom’s intentions. Determined to save Lena from a lifetime of mediocrity she sets out on an elaborate rescue heist.
Polite Society is a well-executed action comedy, infused with a lot of heartfelt story beats. A coming-of-age story set in a Kickass / Kingsman adjacent world, Polite Society wears its heart and fandom on its sleeve. Just like a comic book, the colours in Polite Society are bold, bright, and beautiful. The climax takes place during a huge wedding and is a wildly colourful affair. Gold sparkles twinkle everywhere and saris of every hue light up the screen. As in Scott Pilgrim Vs the World, Ria must do battle with several adversaries along her journey. Giant on-screen text announces their beginnings and Manzoor throws a whole lot of martial art content into each bout. The action is electric, playing off of the light humorous tone to create something quite spectacular. These brief fights punctuate the narrative effectively, offering moments of bonkers fun to offset the more melancholy story points.
Manzoor breaks the tension further by splitting the story into chapters. Dividing the story up in this way helps manifest the sensation of reading a comic book, each chapter title hinting at the treats that follow. There is a punchy pace that helps accelerate Polite Society to its conclusion. Sometimes chapter points in films can kill pacing, but here they break the film into easily digestible segments. Each section having a clear focus – A Tale of Two Sisters, Eid Soiree etc. – gives an almost episodic slant to proceedings, but it is a venture that works, helping the 103 minutes whizz by.
Set within an Asian family unit and, to a degree, exploring arranged marriages, Polite Society also offers a necessary cultural counterpoint to the over-bloated white action film market. Polite Society has the potential to breakthrough in the same way that Bend it Like Beckham did. Whereas Gurinder Chadha kept her film relatively traditional (in terms of formation and story), Manzoor shoots for the moon, and for the most part, wins. The action beats harmonise with the familial drama, and Manzoor isn’t afraid to get a little weird. Polite Society screened at Sundance in the Midnight slot and whilst on paper it doesn’t scream a Midnight movie, revelations in the film warrant its inclusion in the selection.
An addictive feature debut, Polite Society is a charming coming-of-age tale of two sisters. By swaddling the story with action movie montages and fight sequences Polite Society assets its unique nature. Playful, bold, and eye-wateringly colourful, Polite Society is deserving of a bright future. Not many would think to marry Bend it like Beckham with both Pride and Prejudice and Kingsman, but as Polite Society proves, Manzoor ingenuity is a resounding hit. The film’s love for Eunice Huthart is just the icing atop a very stacked cake.
Polite Society
Summary
Polite Society is a refreshing meld of action, coming-of-age story and comedy. All the components harmonise beautifully to create an eye-catching feature debut that may just be the next Bend it Like Beckham.
Polite Society was reviewed at Sundance Film Festival 2023.
