In "What's Love Got To Do With It?", a London-based filmmaker proposes a
documentary about Muslim arranged marriages to two white male commissioners who
are initially bored but quickly warm to the idea of dressing up the topic in
Western romcom tropes.
The story follows the protagonist's childhood friend, Kazim, who is entering
an arranged marriage at the behest of his Pakistani parents. Though the film
tries to give arranged marriages a fair shake, the entire cornball narrative is
rigged against the concept, and it proceeds to pit
Muslim marriage traditions against those of
the romantic comedy playbook.
The film is infused with heartfelt knowledge of the strains and compromises
that come with blending British and Pakistani culture, but ultimately, the film
is more concerned with obeying romcom rules than truly exploring the nuances of
arranged marriages. |