Movie Description
Like most everyone else in England, Jess Bahmra (Parminder Nagra) idolizes professional British football player David Beckham. But Jess is different from most fans; she's a talented player in her own right. Unfortunately, her traditional Indian parents (Anupam Kher and Shaheen Khan) have other plans for their youngest daughter. They expect Jess to follow in the footsteps of her sister, Pinky (Archie Panjabi), who is preparing to marry in a traditional Indian wedding. When Jess meets Jules (Keira Knightley), who plays for a local female football team, she pursues her own dream and begins to play, keeping her participation a secret from her parents and often leading to disastrous results. To complicate matters even more, both Jess and Jules are enamored with their coach, Joe (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Ultimately, Jess has to decide whether to live life on her terms or act in accordance with her parents' wishes. This charming coming-of-age tale is also an intriguing look at Indian culture in England. Juliet Stevenson is superb as Jules' tarty, ultra-feminine mother. BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is directed, written, and produced by Gurinder Chadha (BHAJI ON THE BEACH, WHAT'S COOKING?), and marks the first English feature film appearance from Bollywood icon Anupam Kher.
| Credits | | Producer: | Gurinder Chadha | | Cast: | Anupam Kher, Archie Panjabi, Keira Knightley |
| Details | | Edition: | Pan & Scan; Checkpoint |
Editorial Reviews
"...The large cast of characters is beautifully delineated....The movie's humor and rambunctiousness save the day..."
Movieline - Stephen Farber (03/01/2003)
"Culture and sports have never clashed as winningly as in BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM....A rare amalgam of funny, sweet, action-packed and inspiring..."
USA Today - Claudia Puig (03/12/2003)
"...Writer-director Gurinder Chadha juggles all the angles with flair and fairness. Like Nagra and Knightley, the movie is a sweetheart...
Rolling Stone - Peter Travers (04/03/2003)
"BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is the most exhilarating movie so far this year.....Made with a craftsmanship and pizzazz that restores your appreciation for honest commercial moviemaking..."
Entertainment Weekly - Owen Gleiberman (03/21/2003)
"...A terrifically charming and energetic film about pursuing your dream..."
Premiere - Glenn Kenny (05/01/2003)
"...Purely enjoyable...What makes is special is the bubbling energy of the cast and the warm joy with which Gurinder Chadha tells the story..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (04/06/2003)
"...[The film] plays like a combo of LOVE AND BASKETBALL and a much better MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING..."
Film Comment - Amy Taubin (03/01/2003)
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