I am going to keep this short. This movie paints an extremely unrealistic and ignorant view of British Asian culture, especially British Pakistani culture. None of the characters have any real depth, there are copious amounts of foul language thrown about with no real thought to context. I was also very confused by the order in which the scenes were presented to the viewer, half the time it made no sense at all.Lastly I would like to point out that as a British Pakistani, I was offended by this movie. I believe the topic of honour killings is a very relevant and serious one and if a director/writer wants to tackle that subject, it should be done so with respect and consideration.
... View More10?? have not given a 10 since Paper Moon but the reason for a 10 is as follows.Very disturbing view of British multi cultural existence,,,that being the only reason for a 10...very brave direction and storytelling that could have easily ended up as an anti Muslim or racist vehicle...movies like this should be made to make us think about our own boundaries and ideals ...now the review of the movie itself which would have warranted a 4 or maybe 5.The only thing that lets it down is Paddy Considene..not because he is bad but because he is such a brilliant actor people will watch it just to see him..it should have been made with unknowns so the message was about the narrative,,,not the actors. Never before have I found myself feeling so uncomfortable watching a movie...and that is what movie making is all about.I shall be watching for the director in the future.
... View MoreThe film addresses the insanity of extremists who are so spiritually void that they believe it is okay to kill a member of their own family if that member wishes to choose their own lover, specifically a lover whom is out of favor with the said extremists. This kind of death-wish upon another is plain nuts and has no place what-so-ever on our planet or in the universe.Anyone who considers honour killing an acceptable way to behave needs re-education in the ways of logic and compassion.Crimes of passion will likely always happen, and happen across a variety of cultures worldwide. But when it happens, the appropriate penalties must be applied. It is a shame that in some counties it is tolerated by local authorities, this is the problem.It is a murderous and sub-human practice. If severe punishment were dispensed to the imbeciles who order these murders, worldwide, then more children will learn the right way.They will learn that love should not be restricted by race or religion.
... View MoreHONOUR is a difficult movie to watch. Centering on the idea of honor killings, a practice that not only prevails in Muslim communities but in other cultures as well, it focuses on the way in which Mona (Aiysha Hart), 'transgresses' her family's sense of ethics by falling in love with a Punjabi man Tanvir (Nikesh Patel). Spurred on by her elder brother Kasim (Faraz Ayub), who works for London's Metropolitan Police by day, the family engage a bounty- hunter (Paddy Considine) to pursue Mona and discover her whereabouts. This he agrees to do, while at the same time despising the family, especially Mother (Harvey Virdi), who spends most of her time at home working as a seamstress.The movie opens explosively with the dénouement, and then goes back to tell the story of why Mona was considered to 'transgress'. The ideas might seem shocking to non-Muslims, but Shan Khan's film shows how important it is for young women - especially - to forge the right marriages, even if it means them being transported back to Pakistan to marry a spouse chosen for them by their family, and agreed upon (normally on financial terms) by the groom's family.Shot in neo-documentary style around the streets of the London suburb of Southall, a major center for the Asian community, HONOUR makes much of the private/public distinction: by day Kasim spends his time working for an organization that explicitly pursues anti- racist policies (in the wake of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, which exposed large-scale racism in the Metropolitan Police). By night he appears to embrace just the kind of racism that the police try to eradicate, as he abuses Tanvir - and at one point holds him captive. Yet director Khan does not criticize Kasim for this; on the contrary he suggests that this is a way of life for many of London's Asian communities.The real villain of the piece is Considine's bounty-hunter, who has no sense of belief other than to obtain as much money as possible. He is the true racist in the sense that he makes no effort to understand anybody's motives; all that matters for him is that the job should be done and he should receive due financial reward. It is people like him who help to perpetuate the racist stereotypes that prevent members of different communities from integrating with one another in inner cities - not just in London, but everywhere.HONOUR offers no comfort of an easy resolution. On the contrary, it suggests that second or third generation Asians living in western capitals have to acknowledge the presence of cultural difference, and observe the conventions laid down by their families, even it that means sacrificing the so-called 'freedom' of the west for a more confined existence. This might seem 'unfair' in Mona's cause, but only because she has been brought up in a culture that supposedly values free will.
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