Bend It Like Beckham (B+ or 3/4 stars)
Soccer rules in 'Bend It Like Beckham', a British dramedy directed by Gurinder Chadha. Jess (Parminder Nagra), a teen living in London, has to make a choice between following the strict traditions of her Indian family or following a dream of becoming a soccer superstar. Kiera Knightley plays Jules, her friend and confidante. Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays Joe, coach of the team that they play on, and potential love interest for Jules. Topics of inter-racial relations & social change in a conservative setting are touched upon, but the film is so entertaining, fun, and fresh that you can still leave the theater with a smile on your face.
Because Jess Bhamra is orthodox Sikh, she is expected to follow in the footsteps of her older sis, Pinky. That is, marry an appropriate suitor, cook, make babies, & cook some more. Feeling suffocated, Jess takes up football (American soccer) as a modernist escape. She's rather good, but her parents see this as an act of masculine rebellion (why chase a ball in shorts when you can wear some drapes and cook East Indian cuisine?) Making matters worse, Jules befriends Jess, and both sets of parents superficially think that their 18 yr. old daughters may be lesbians. Everything comes to a climax when Jess has to decide whether to travel to Hamburg, Germany for a big soccer tournament, or attend her sister's wedding! Will she play? Or will she comply with her loving family's wishes?
This really is a coming-of-age & finding-a-sense-of-self type of film: Can Jess 'bend' the rules and achieve independence from her family? Will she do it by 'bending' a soccer ball like Beckham? You know, there's a very casual, homey feel to this movie. It's very comforting to watch. Maybe you don't know any British people personally, & perhaps you don't know many Indians but, after this movie, you'll feel like they're your family; they are everybody's family. Everyone from all corners of the world and all cultures have a 'coming-of-age' story to tell.
'Bend it ...' has spirit, originality & a huge likability factor. Jess & Jules are characters to root for. Add in some comedy revolving around both sets of families & some exciting moments on the soccer field, and you've got a pretty special film. The cinematography is colorful, the authentic music score is effective. It's hard to find a joyful movie such as this without making it too saccharine. I enjoyed the smart, lively performances. And it's interesting to see the culture collisions btwn. Indian & Brit lifestyles. This film isn't deep, but its part girl-power message, part sports drama makes this a winner.
Because Jess Bhamra is orthodox Sikh, she is expected to follow in the footsteps of her older sis, Pinky. That is, marry an appropriate suitor, cook, make babies, & cook some more. Feeling suffocated, Jess takes up football (American soccer) as a modernist escape. She's rather good, but her parents see this as an act of masculine rebellion (why chase a ball in shorts when you can wear some drapes and cook East Indian cuisine?) Making matters worse, Jules befriends Jess, and both sets of parents superficially think that their 18 yr. old daughters may be lesbians. Everything comes to a climax when Jess has to decide whether to travel to Hamburg, Germany for a big soccer tournament, or attend her sister's wedding! Will she play? Or will she comply with her loving family's wishes?
This really is a coming-of-age & finding-a-sense-of-self type of film: Can Jess 'bend' the rules and achieve independence from her family? Will she do it by 'bending' a soccer ball like Beckham? You know, there's a very casual, homey feel to this movie. It's very comforting to watch. Maybe you don't know any British people personally, & perhaps you don't know many Indians but, after this movie, you'll feel like they're your family; they are everybody's family. Everyone from all corners of the world and all cultures have a 'coming-of-age' story to tell.
'Bend it ...' has spirit, originality & a huge likability factor. Jess & Jules are characters to root for. Add in some comedy revolving around both sets of families & some exciting moments on the soccer field, and you've got a pretty special film. The cinematography is colorful, the authentic music score is effective. It's hard to find a joyful movie such as this without making it too saccharine. I enjoyed the smart, lively performances. And it's interesting to see the culture collisions btwn. Indian & Brit lifestyles. This film isn't deep, but its part girl-power message, part sports drama makes this a winner.