Polite Society 2023

In London, a spirited British-Pakistani teenager, Ria Khan, dreams of becoming a renowned movie stunt performer, inspired by her idol, Eunice Huthart. Embracing an alter ego dubbed “the Fury”, she teams up with her older sister, Lena, to create unique martial arts videos labeled Khan-Fu. However, Lena, who once thrived in art school, now finds herself back home under the watchful eye of their loving yet traditional parents, Fatima and Rafe, both of whom express doubts about Ria’s aspirations.

Despite endless practice, Ria struggles to master the elusive reverse spinning kick. With her father urging Lena to accept a mundane receptionist job, the family dynamics start to shift. At school, Ria is inseparable from her best friends, Clara and Alba, but an unsupportive teacher pressures her to consider a more conventional career path, like being a doctor, rather than following her heart as a stuntwoman. Her attempts to reach out for mentorship from Eunice fall flat, leaving her disheartened after being bested by the school bully Kovacs.

The family’s routine is disrupted when they receive an invitation to an Eid party hosted by Raheela, a prominent figure in Fatima’s circle. Here, Ria discovers that the event is meticulously organized to find a marriage match for Raheela’s son, Salim Shah, a successful geneticist. As Lena agrees to go on a date with him, tension rises, especially as Ria grapples with resentment towards her sister’s choices, feeling that she is veering away from her artistic dreams.

Ria is horrified as Lena grows smitten with Salim and commits to marrying him, setting her sights on relocating to Singapore. Feeling betrayed, Ria believes that Lena is in a state of denial about the sacrifices she is making. In an effort to uncover what she suspects may be a nefarious arrangement, Ria enlists the help of Clara and Alba to surveil Salim. Their investigation leads them to concoct a plan to swipe his laptop for leverage, but their efforts yield no incriminating evidence.

Fearing the worst and determined to thwart the union, Ria lashes out impulsively, breaking into Salim’s home to leave incriminating evidence. However, confronted by Salim about her accusations, she learns that his first wife tragically died during childbirth. Salim’s heartfelt explanation reveals a deeper story about his motivations for starting a lab in her memory.

As tension escalates and Ria faces alienation from her sister and friends, she decides to apologize to Raheela, who takes her on an uncomfortable spa day that reveals a sinister agenda: Raheela has been covertly testing eligible women to find a suitable match based on fertility. After stumbling upon a disturbing lab filled with shocking discoveries, Ria realizes the gravity of the situation.

Teaming up once more, Ria, Clara, and Alba devise a daring rescue mission on the day of the wedding, relying on Kovacs to help them navigate the event’s challenges. Ria captivates the crowd with a spectacular Filmi dance, creating the diversion needed for her friends to infiltrate the bridal suite and rescue Lena, who is being held against her will.

In a thrilling showdown, Ria puts her martial arts skills to the test as she confronts Raheela, leading to a dramatic conflict that results in the truth spilling out. With her family and friends rallying to support her, they unmask Raheela’s sinister plot. As the police arrive, the sisters, united once again, drive away in Kovacs’ car, filled with hopes for the future. Ultimately, Ria receives a much-anticipated email from Eunice, affirming her aspirations and allowing the sisters to celebrate their newfound bond.