Brides – REVIEW

The story of three British teenagers who joined ISIS gained significant media attention, particularly after a drone strike left only one surviving. That survivor is now held in a Syrian detention camp, stripped of her UK citizenship and unable to return home. While the media focused on condemning their actions, a new film called “Brides” explores the possible reasons behind their choices. Set in 2014, the film centers on Doe, a quiet and religious Somali girl, and her friend Muna, a more outspoken Pakistani girl who faces racist bullying at school. Muna’s attempts to deal with the abuse lead to conflict with both the school and her father, ultimately setting her on a dangerous path.

The film follows two young women who leave their small town school and travel to Turkey, intending to reach the Syrian border. The story unfolds primarily through their journey, interwoven with flashbacks to their lives in the UK and the reasons behind their decision to leave. After arriving in Turkey and being told to wait for someone who never comes, they’re forced to navigate the journey to the border on their own. They encounter a group of people who seem to offer the community they were seeking, but the film ultimately reveals they’ve entered a much more dangerous and uncontrollable situation, leaving them vulnerable and at the mercy of their circumstances as teenage girls in a foreign country.

The story delves much deeper into Doe’s background than Muna’s, using flashbacks to reveal a more complex reason for her actions. These flashbacks show her mother living a wild and often irresponsible life, and her stepfather is a poor match for her. Generally, the men they encounter are disappointing, and frequently put them in danger-with one exception: a kind, widowed father who offers them a ride.

The film centers around two incredibly convincing performances that make the girls’ friendship feel genuine. It unfolds like a road movie, heading towards an outcome the pair didn’t anticipate. The script, by Suhayla El-Bushra, portrays the girls as relatable teenagers – flawed, easily influenced, and prone to mistakes, just like many of us. Their poor decision stems from naiveté rather than malice, making ‘Brides’ a film that’s truly worth seeing.

Here’s the Brides trailer….

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2025-09-25 02:23