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Take Off
Movie

Take Off

2017 • Unknown

Woke Score
3
out of 10

Plot

A group of Malayali nurses stranded in Iraq, must survive their capture by the extremists and reach out to the rescue team headed by the Indian government.

Overall Series Review

The film 'Take Off' is a realistic survival thriller based on the real-life ordeal of Indian nurses trapped by ISIS in Iraq. The narrative centers on Sameera, a determined and financially-burdened nurse, focusing on her personal struggle as a working divorcee in her home society and her subsequent courage during the crisis in a war zone. The core themes are universal: survival, national solidarity, and the profound economic pressure that forces skilled workers into dangerous situations abroad. The movie strongly portrays the efforts of the Indian diplomatic mission and the compassion of an Indian Ambassador to rescue the citizens, framing this as a national victory. Sameera's strength is a main focus, balanced by the presence of capable, supportive men in both a personal and diplomatic capacity. The antagonists are clearly defined as religious extremists (ISIS) without indicting a wider religious or cultural group, concentrating the conflict on radical ideology and military siege.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics2/10

The plot focuses on the specific class and nationality of the characters, as Malayali Indian nurses, rather than a broad intersectional lens. The conflict is not rooted in a power hierarchy of 'whiteness' or immutable characteristics. Characters, from the lead nurse to the Indian Ambassador, are defined by their merit, determination, and professional competence in a crisis.

Oikophobia3/10

The movie highlights societal issues within Sameera's home culture, such as the low wages for nurses and social pressure faced by a divorced woman in Kerala. However, this is a critique of specific, fixable problems, not a fundamental civilizational self-hatred. The Indian state, represented by the embassy and diplomatic staff, is ultimately portrayed as the heroic, successful protector of its citizens, celebrating a national diplomatic effort.

Feminism5/10

The main character, Sameera, is a strong-willed, determined, and career-driven woman who is the emotional and narrative center of the film. She drives her own destiny, confronting the societal patriarchy that judges her as a working divorcee. While this points toward a 'Girl Boss' archetype, her second husband is portrayed as a kind, understanding, and protective partner, not a bumbling idiot, demonstrating a complementary male-female relationship rather than a complete emasculation of men.

LGBTQ+1/10

The film contains no explicit or implicit themes related to queer theory, alternative sexualities, or the deconstruction of the nuclear family. The focus of the personal drama is on a traditional family structure, including divorce, remarriage, and motherhood, within a heterosexual context.

Anti-Theism2/10

The antagonists are the ISIS militants, who embody a violent, extremist religious ideology, placing the critique on radicalism. The film avoids framing general or traditional religion, including the faith of the Indian nurses themselves, as the root of evil, adhering to a transcendent morality where their work and compassion are sources of human strength.