Marriage Cops | WATCH DOCS

The idea of marriage therapy run by police officers may sound risky, yet in India, where women often stand powerless against a deeply patriarchal system, it can be the only way to safeguard their rights. At a police station in Dehradun that doubles as a marital counseling center, couples arrive seeking help with their troubled relationships. In practice, it is almost always the women making the complaint, demanding alimony, or an end to domestic violence. Husbands who avoid responsibility are sometimes brought in by force, often accompanied by entire extended families. Emotions flare quickly as everyone scrambles to assign blame for the collapse of an arranged marriage. It can be tense, even chaotic, but the filmmakers capture these moments with wit and warmth, turning “Marriage Cops” into a sharp yet endearing situational comedy. Much of its charm lies with the female officers themselves: empathetic when needed, but never hesitant to remind everyone who’s in charge. 

Konrad Wirkowski