What Will People Say
A Norwegian Pakistani teenager is forcibly sent to Pakistan after her parents discover her forbidden relationship, forcing her to confront the costs of divided identity and family honor.
Overview
A gripping exploration of cultural identity and familial expectations unfolds as a young girl is torn between two worlds.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- harrowing
- intimate
- tense
- social issue film night
- discussion group
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's powerful, difficult examination of institutional sexism, cultural conflict, and family control.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Nisha performs the role of a Pakistani daughter at home while living as a Norwegian teenager with friends.
Nisha's parents respond to her relationship by forcibly sending her to relatives in Pakistan.
The story repeatedly contrasts Nisha's home life with her freer life among Norwegian friends.
The family treats Nisha's sexuality and reputation as matters requiring punishment and social control.
Films like What Will People Say, and why
Bend It Like Beckham
coming-of-age drama centered on cultural identity, family control, and immigrant generational conflict
Mustang
emotionally direct teen drama about patriarchal expectations, cultural belonging, and personal autonomy
The Breadwinner
socially conscious coming-of-age story exploring family pressure, gender norms, and divided identity
Wadjda
intimate drama about adolescent selfhood constrained by conservative family and community expectations
Movie Details
- Director
- Iram Haq
- Release Date
- 2017-10-06
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (222)
Cast
- Maria Mozhdah
- Adil Hussain
- Ekavali Khanna
- Rohit Saraf
- Ali Arfan
- Sheeba Chaddha
- Lalit Parimoo
- Jannat Zubair Rahmani
- Isak Lie Harr
- Nokokure Dahl
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Kino Film Collection
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is What Will People Say about?
- A Norwegian Pakistani teenager is forcibly sent to Pakistan after her parents discover her forbidden relationship, forcing her to confront the costs of divided identity and family honor.
- What is What Will People Say like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of What Will People Say as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is What Will People Say violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in What Will People Say as mild.
- What did critics think of What Will People Say?
- Critics broadly praised the film's powerful, difficult examination of institutional sexism, cultural conflict, and family control.
- Which films are like What Will People Say?
- Films with a similar feel include Bend It Like Beckham, Mustang, The Breadwinner, and Wadjda.
- How long is What Will People Say?
- What Will People Say runs 106 minutes.
- Where can I watch What Will People Say?
- In United States, What Will People Say streams on Kino Film Collection.
