Britz
Britz
| 31 October 2007 (USA)
SEASON & EPISODES
  • 1
  • Reviews
    Actuakers

    One of my all time favorites.

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    Micransix

    Crappy film

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    Donald Seymour

    This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

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    Kirandeep Yoder

    The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

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    bolar77

    I was greatly impressed with this - it bravely raises issues around racial harmony, integration or persecution that are little examined in contemporary British media.The plot is suspenseful, if at times a little unbelievable.The acting is very good, the production and direction artful without overdoing it. Scenes on location overseas very well done.Overall a very enjoyable, and thought provoking film, which raises difficult political questions for individuals, nations and faiths to think about carefully, but the film reminds us we don't have the luxury of time to ponder these thorny issues, when so many lives hang in the balance day by day.Well done to all the production staff, and people involved in this project. Goodstuff Channel 4.

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    Nocheesyusernames

    I didn't get to see this when it was first shown on t.v so I watched it about a week after on 4OD. It's not the kind of thing I would normally watch but let me tell you, it is so worth watching. Its very hard hitting and intense and makes you think about the issues that are raised in it. The acting is awesome and there is never a dull moment. Its very clever the way they have split it in two and have managed to combine them. When you watch the second one you can almost see what is about to happen but nothing can prepare you for the shock ending. I personally thought that this was so good I have researched it for my media studies coursework. Before I watched this I had no idea how unfair this country has been to British born Muslims and it makes you wonder how people have stood by and let these laws continue. I am white British and from the northeast of England and if it managed to make me stop and think about the issues raised then I think it can do the same for anyone else.

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    davideo-2

    STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning Sohail (Riz Ahmed) and Nasima (Verjinder Virk) are a British born Muslim brother and sister with differing views on Islam and modern Britain. Though he thinks the war in Iraq was unjustified and isn't shy about saying exactly what he thinks about those who hate him and the people he cares about just for the colour of their skin, Sohail also despairs of the misguided teachings of extremist Muslim scholars and, most importantly, feels he owes a huge debt of gratitude to the country that took him in, gave him a home and the best chance of a decent education and the best chances in life. On the other hand, Nasima's earliest memories are 'of them smashing our windows and putting dogshit through our letterbox...I hate this country.' And in her eyes things haven't got much better over the years. This two-part drama thriller follows the different paths these two choose, as Sohail secretly joins MI5 and has to search his conscience when he's asked to spy on his close friends and people he's grown up with. Meanwhile, Nasima's best friend is arrested and held without charge on suspicion of terrorism, but is then released, only to have ridiculous bail conditions imposed on her, learn she won't get fair representation in court and for the stress of it all to drive her to commit suicide. When Nasima's father, a strict Muslim with traditionalist beliefs, learns she's been seeing a black man, he sends her off to Pakistan for an arranged marriage. Instead, she finds herself on a journey to a terrorist training camp...and becoming a suicide bomber.With a plot taken straight from today's headlines, Britz focuses in on two characters who are so close but so far apart. It's a hot potato story about Muslims in modern Britain and their attitudes and feelings towards UK foreign policy and their own treatment back home.Sohail is an interesting character, who shows the problems on both sides with heavy-handed authorities who make young Muslims feel alienated but also the backward, fanatical teachings, beliefs and ideals of his own people. Nasima's story, on the other hand, zooms in on all the bad points only from the Muslim point of view, with the right to free speech/protest being chipped away, a lot of heavy-handed new anti-terror laws being introduced which give the feeling of being aimed at Muslims, and the harsh attitude they are met with by the authorities. The police are painted in a bad light in both stories. I'm sure they don't play completely by the book when going after terror suspects, but some of the behaviour they display in this does seem a bit over the top and I'm sure they wouldn't get away with it in real life.This is an ambitious and highly-charged two-parter but at over two hours each, the narrative flow in both stories gets disjointed and doesn't flow smoothly, making it feel like a bit of a slog to sit through at times. And the ending, when it eventually comes, just doesn't pay off. I couldn't buy Nasima's transformation into a woman who's mind had been completely warped and was capable of mass murder. A lot of bad stuff had happened to her, but it just didn't feel like she'd changed to that extent. Sensationalism is a big part of the problem, here, from the portrayal of the police to Nasima's end decision. Her haunting, impassioned suicide video is a neat end, though, and reminds you of a lot of the good stuff going on here.This set it's sights very high, and there's a lot to write home about, but some crippling flaws mean it doesn't ascend to the heights it should have. ***

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    anon anon

    First of all, the drama had set out good hopes to help shed light on how Someone Under Pressure from All Directions can be motivated to do something stupid, in this case, Do a Suicide Bomb.The drama started positively, two siblings, each going their own way; the brother joining MI5, the sister eventually wanting to Attack Britian with a "Suicide Bomb". The drama however, ended up with a "James Bond"-esquire feel and became rather stereo-typical and surreal rather than what it was meant to be, a guide as to how those responsible for 7/7 would have been motivated.(Spoler) The fact that the Main Character, Naseema, Was a not-so-religious woman, sleeping with men and obviously very laid back, Suffered a tragedy when her friend was abused by Police Officors and took her own Life. Naseem to quickly became influenced by "Terrorist sympathisers" it was rather silly and absurd how it was as if it was normal.Also the fact how it was made as if it was normal for a Muslim to sympathise with terrorists, even after World-Wide Condenmnation left a lot to be asked.I think the Show did a good job Pointing out the fact there are too many Absurd Laws obviously set to target Muslims, and Silly Policies which are actually affecting Muslims. How Raids and Attacks against Muslims are almost Accepeted and "Normal". Pressuring Muslims and singling them out. Also the fact that the current wars have done no good and made it harder for everyone. How Muslim Women are raped in US "POW" Prisons, and Men are Abused in US "POW" Prisons. A Bleack Picture is given as to how helpless UK Muslims feel when any attempt to protest goes Unheard and simply brushed away. The only hope being to "Fight fire with fire"However i felt the Drama could have done to avoid Cliché "Terror" and "Evil" Stereotypes.Thankfully the world we know is not as Grimm and Pessismistic as this, but does paint a picture the Government needs to sort its act out; making Equality a proper priority, and to condemn atrocities carried out in the Backward Wars "Against Terror".

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