Particle.news
Download on the App Store

UK Critics Split on Brides, Nadia Fall’s Debut About Teens Drawn to ISIS

An intimate portrait of radicalisation draws praise for performances yet invites scrutiny over agency.

Overview

  • The film follows two British teenagers who travel via Turkey toward Syria intending to marry Islamic State fighters.
  • Directed by Nadia Fall from a screenplay by Suhayla El-Bushra, the feature frames its story within real-world debates linked to the Shamima Begum case.
  • Much of the action unfolds in Turkey, with the journey intercut by UK flashbacks that depict bullying, racism and sexist abuse.
  • Reviewers consistently highlight the chemistry and performances of leads Ebada Hassan and Safiyya Ingar.
  • Recent UK reviews are divided, with The Guardian calling the drama powerful and poignant while Little White Lies and The Times fault it for simplification and an apologetic framing.