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Peek at the Patricia: Sisterhood celebration is a crowd-pleaser

Film blends Bollywood splendor, kung fu action movies and British wryness
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Priya Kansara stars as Ria in Polite Society.

Polite Society throws, kicks and punches the genre-etiquette book out the window to deliver a fun film that blends Bollywood splendor, kung fu action movies, and British wryness.

It’s the feature debut from British writer-director Nida Manzoor, and it traffics in several familiar lanes: the coming-of-age high school comedy, a Bollywood movie, and the light-gravity-bending and slo-mo shots of a martial arts flick. Its particular flavour, however, is immediately distinctive and winning.

Fun to watch throughout, it mashes Jane Austen and the Chuckle Brothers. Ria’s punk attitude is endearing, the action winking and lighthearted, and everyone seems to be having a great time. It’s easy to root for her ultimate transformation into her stunt woman alter ego, The Fury.

The unconventional mannerisms of Ria [Priya Kansara] transform this story from a rote comedy into one that’s elevated in humour, stunt work and choreography.

The fight scenes, so amusingly executed by Kansara, serve to dramatize the struggle women endure – especially the ongoing duel with that certain special in-law.

With great central performances, downright contagious energy, and a great story about what it means to be family, Polite Society is a crowd-pleaser, and Manzoor and Kansara are certainly talents to watch. It’s a very sweet celebration of sisterhood.

Polite Society, rated PG, plays at the Patricia Theatre on June 7 and 8, with a matinee on Thursday, June 8, at 1:30 pm. Running time is one hour and 44 minutes.

Gary Shilling is executive director of qathet Film Society.