Honour

HONOUR 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.

I would not call this movie a thriller but a drama. Unfortunately a drama that still happens in these ages. The barbaric beliefs of people still living like in the middle ages. Whatever somebody wants to do with his life is his or her choice and nobody should interfere in that life as long as the person doesn't harm anybody. I thought the movie was well made with good actors that made the story believable. For me as a convinced atheist it is painful to watch that in the twenty-first century there are still people who act like that. I hate every religion or sect and I think we can only have a better future if all religions were to be abolished. I know this will never happen and that's too bad but if at least every believer of whatever religion would just get on with his own life and leave all the rest in peace then maybe we would get somewhere. From all the religions there are Islam is by far the most retarded of them all. It looks like they didn't evolve in time. Anyways, I thought the movie was interesting to watch even though it made me mad. Certainly worth a watch.

I don't have much to add that distracts from my stars or my tag line. Any movie brave enough have 'honour' as its title is asking to be criticised, but with this Honour, such is unnecessary. The director, the cameramen, and the editors here have created a truly professional piece. Its class is shown in the contrast between the cinematography, full of bright clear colour, which shows a modern, happy and vibrant England (like a shopping interlude on a Nigella Lawson show), and the story itself, brilliantly constructed from several person's perspective, before coming together for the dramatic close. It is in this last aspect that the movie truly satisfies as a thriller. It's well cast, wonderfully acted, and keeps the viewer guessing. I highly recommend it as a thriller, as well as the talent on display as a work of cinematic excellence, and of course the enlightened way the writer has presented a terrible evil in our society. Worthy of several awards.

"Honour killings are violent acts of vengeance, committed by male family members against female relatives ..." This is patently untrue. Honor killings do not discriminate by gender. Women simply get the publicity.

But it seems every writer must follow Feminist (gender Marxist) dogma and carry water for "the war on women" screed.

Again and again, bad male culture, poor 'heroic' women victims and the white knights that save them to prove how strong they are.

This inanity keeps cropping up again and again by a whole generation of writers brainwashed since childhood to despise the penis.

The 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.