Bend It Like Beckham (2003, DVD)

Angry women: You take your lesbian feet out of my shoes!
Elderly Women [bystander]: I thought she was a Pisces?

Directed By Gurinder Chadha
Parminder Nagra as Jess Bhamra
Keira Knightley as Jules Paxton
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as Coach Joe


Bend It Like Beckham 2002

This film is set in present day London, England. Jes is a young Indian girl with a deep love for the game of Soccer. This seems simple enough but it s not at all. Her family has very strong religious and cultural traditions which are clearly against ladies playing sports not to mention having their bare legs showing in the public! Against her parents wishes she decided to play on a girls soccer team. She knew her parents would flip out if they knew what she was doing so she kept it from them. She told them that she was working a job instead.

Before long her parents found out and they were very upset and disappointed with her behavior. On the other hand she was following her dreams and she loved the game. In the end there is no punishment worse than a parent who is disappointed in you. She quit the game and tried to obey and respect her parents. Her friends told her that his was a huge mistake and that she was too good to just quit. In fact she was very good at Soccer and an American scout had his eye on Jes and her soccer partner Jules. She had to make some very tough decisions; defy the wishes of her parents or follow her dreams.


Conclusion

Bend It Like Beckham is an enjoyable feel good movie. I really enjoyed the film and enjoyed the story and the humor. The story has several sub plots going on and it keeps the film interesting and enough humor to keep the viewer laughing. It also has a couple of twists which work well in the film. Jes falls in love with her young Irish coach then finds out her best friend is in love with the coach to. Oh the drama of young love. Then her friends mother overhears the two girls having an argument over their coach and misconstrues their argument as a love quarrel. She then believes that her daughter is a lesbian and becomes a bit distraught over the ordeal. Its quite funny.

The movie has a good fun theme to it, with a little soccer ta boot. The suspense is whether her family will come around and let her follow her dreams or stick to their strong traditions and force her to let her dreams and talent go. The directing was good. I like the way he kept the film busy with it s many sub plots. It keeps the film interesting and the pace fast. There were no slow spots. The film was shot well too. Most of the film is set outside during spring time in England. The music was also enjoyable. There is quite a few songs in the film and it s a popular soundtrack (Pop Music). The acting by all of the main characters were very well done. The only actor that I had seen before is Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. His performance in Ride With The Devil was superb. He played his part well as coach Joe in this film as well. I believe most people would enjoy Bend It Like Beckham. I give this unique and fun film, four of five stars.


This is a movie entry into Sleeper54 s Lean & Mean IV W/O


Thanks for the read,

2005 Joe McMaster