PARK CITY, UTAH Jan. 24 (UPI) — Brides, a powerful new film that debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, dives deep into the troubling journey of two teenage girls who are radicalized to join ISIS. The story aims to raise awareness about this pressing issue without endorsing their choices.
Ebada Hassan and Safiyya Ingar portray Doe and Muna, two girls who leave England in 2014 with hopes of connecting with Islamic State fighters. When their escort fails to pick them up in Turkey, they decide to make the dangerous trip to Syria on their own.
The film highlights a stark reality—ISIS has actively recruited young Muslim women as brides. It approaches their motivations with empathy, avoiding a simplistic or preachy tone. Suhayla El-Bushra’s script carefully elaborates on what drives Doe and Muna to embark on such a perilous adventure.
The girls’ story unfolds like a gritty road trip, but the stakes here are life-altering. Unlike typical Hollywood comedies where missed buses lead to silly mishaps, Doe and Muna face serious dangers as minors traveling alone. They encounter both kindness and suspicion during their travels, revealing a complex picture of their experiences abroad.
Flashbacks reveal the lives they are trying to escape. Muna, who is Pakistani, faces bullying in school, while Doe, whose full name is Fedosa, deals with a difficult home life, including an abusive stepfather. Through it all, her mother’s worried calls show that love remains a constant, even amidst chaos.
Brides doesn’t spoon-feed the audience information. Instead, it hints at the complexities of Doe and Muna’s intentions. Away from home, they take advantage of the kindness of strangers, yet their true motivations remain murky. They seem to be searching for belonging without fully grasping the violent path ahead.
A teacher’s lesson about the difference between teaching Islam and waging war provides a stark contrast to their journey. As they strive to align with fighters, it brings into question what alternatives they really have.
The film makes clear the harsh reactions and anti-Muslim sentiment they encounter, painting a picture of an unwelcoming England. While not justifying extremism, it highlights the nuance needed to understand how desperate circumstances can push young people towards radical choices.
Muna often challenges Doe’s commitment to their plans, hinting at bravery but also at a deep-seated naivety. Their friendship faces trials as they navigate the challenges of their journey, evoking both sympathy and frustration from the viewers.
Ingar brings a vibrant energy to Muna’s character, while Hassan’s portrayal of Doe elicits empathy despite her few words. Their bond is tested throughout the film, and one can’t help but wish for a change of heart.
Brides offers an uncomfortable but necessary exploration of its characters’ experiences. It doesn’t condone their actions, but it provides a window into the disturbing realities that lead some youth to seek violent paths. Just as there are films exploring American recruitment by extremist groups, Brides sheds light on a similar trend happening globally.
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