Watch Honour

Honour is a 2014 British film directed by Shan Khan. Set in London, the film tells the story of a Pakistani girl named Mona (played by Aiysha Hart) who falls in love with a British man named David (played by Harry Treadaway) despite the objections of her family. Mona's family is deeply conservative and traditional, and they expect her to marry someone from their community. David, meanwhile, is carefree and has no interest in following the traditional path set out for him by his parents.

The film starts with a mysterious meeting between Mona and a man named Preet (played by Faraz Ayub). It soon becomes clear that Preet is a friend of Mona's, and that he is helping her to elope with David. The plan is to leave London and start a new life together, free from the expectations of their families.

As the story unfolds, we see glimpses of Mona's family life. Her father (played by Anjli Mohindra) is a strict and authoritarian figure who insists on following traditional Pakistani customs. Her brother is equally conservative, and he is outraged by Mona's relationship with David. Mona's mother (played by Nitin Ganatra) is more sympathetic to Mona's situation, but she is powerless to intervene.

As Mona and David try to leave London, they are ambushed by a group of men who are clearly associated with Mona's family. David is beaten and left for dead, while Mona is taken back to the family home. It soon becomes clear that Mona has been the victim of an honor killing, carried out by her family as punishment for bringing shame upon them.

The rest of the film is a tense and gripping psychological drama as Preet tries to uncover the truth about what happened to Mona. He suspects that her family is responsible for her death, but he has no proof. As he investigates further, he puts his own life at risk, but he is determined to get justice for Mona.

Honour is a powerful and thought-provoking film that explores themes of tradition, modernity, and cultural identity. It is a searing indictment of the practice of honor killings, which continues to be a problem in some parts of the world. The film does not shy away from the brutal reality of these killings, but it also shows the human cost of the cultural clash between traditional values and modern lifestyles.

The performances are uniformly excellent, with Aiysha Hart delivering a standout performance as Mona. She brings depth and complexity to the role, allowing us to see Mona as a fully realized character rather than just a victim. Vincent Riotta is also impressive as Detective Sergeant Dhillon, the police officer tasked with investigating Mona's death. He brings a quiet intensity to the role, conveying the frustration and anger that many immigrants feel when they are caught between two cultures.

The film is visually arresting, with Khan using a striking color palette to highlight the clash between Mona's traditional upbringing and David's modern lifestyle. There are also some memorable scenes featuring traditional Pakistani music, which add to the film's atmosphere and sense of place.

Overall, Honour is a moving and important film that tackles a difficult subject with sensitivity and intelligence. It is a timely reminder that cultural traditions can sometimes be used to justify horrific acts of violence, and that we must be vigilant in protecting the rights of individuals to live their lives as they choose.

Honour is a 2017 comedy with a runtime of 12 hours.