Polite Society
- 2023 film
A heist caper focused on two British-Pakistani sisters, written and directed by Nida Manzoor. Also features Priya Kansara, Ritu Arya, Shobu Kapoor, Ella Bruccoleri, Seraphina Beh and more.
Streaming rank this week: 3,562
Press clippings
Rye Lane and Scrapper lead BIFA nominations
Raine Allen-Miller's London-set romantic comedy Rye Lane leads the nominations for the 2023 British Independent Film Awards (Bifas) with 16, followed closely by Charlotte Regan's comedy Scrapper with 14. Polite Society is also nominated for five awards.
Ben Dalton, Screen Daily, 2nd November 2023Polite Society review
Polite Society is a delicious modern fairy-tale: Prince Charming is put firmly in his place, and the damsel takes charge of her own destiny. We're left believing that Ria really might actually leap and kick her way into her fantasy future.
Susan Singfield, Bouquets & Brickbats, 2nd May 2023Polite Society review
Nida Manzoor's kickass ​celebration of sisterhood.
Wendy Ide, The Guardian, 30th April 2023Polite Society's Priya Kansara on doing her own stunts and south Asian representation
The action-comedy follows a martial artist-in-training plotting to save her sister from marriage.
Furvah Shah, Cosmopolitan, 28th April 2023Polite Society review
The idea behind Polite Society is exciting and innovative, and there are frequent enjoyable moments. It also offers a mainstream audience insight into British-Pakistani culture, which is incredibly important. There is a beautiful dance sequence towards the end of the film that Kansara absolutely kills, the action can be fun and the overall storyline is enjoyably original and insightful. The actors deliver good performances and the cinematography is engaging and energetic. However, weaknesses in the script, confused pacing and a lack of substantial characters stop it from reaching its full potential.
Sophia Moss, The Upcoming, 28th April 2023Polite Society pulls its punches
Ria is scrappy, determined, and prone to self-dramatising, but the most endearing thing about her is that she occasionally also gets to be a jerk.
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 28th April 2023Polite Society review
British-Pakistani life gets a madcap kung-fu mash-up.
Danny Leigh, The Financial Times, 27th April 2023Polite Society review
A homegrown martial arts comedy that delivers a roundhouse kick to the heart.
Clarisse Loughrey, The Independent, 27th April 2023Polite Society review
Fun action comedy mashes Jane Austen and the Chuckle Brothers.
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian, 26th April 2023Polite Society review
This explosive, action-packed delight recalls Scott Pilgrim, Kill Bill, Get Out and The Matrix.
Mohammad Zaheer, BBC, 25th April 2023