#14 Bend It Like Beckham

FILMS FOR THOUGHT

By: Alex Holzum

    For my second to last blog post, I have chosen to look at another sports movie: Bend It Like Beckham.  This film is set in England in the Bhamra household.  We learn that the Bhamras are a very conservative Indian family with a mother, father, and two daughters.  Jess is the younger daughter and a very talented soccer player that is being restricted from playing because it goes against her family's idea of what is appropriate for girls to do.  If it were up to Jess's parents, Jess would never play soccer and be more like her sister by learning how to manage a household and find a husband.

                                           

    One day while Jess is secretly playing soccer in the park with her guy friends, Jules (played by Keira Knightley) happens to walk by and notice Jess's soccer skills.  Jules invites Jess to try out for the women's soccer team that she plays for.  Jess decides to join the team without telling her parents.  On top of secretly joining the soccer team, she starts to develop feelings for her coach, Joe (played by Jonathan Meyers).  This is an absolutely forbidden love because Joe is not Indian and Jess's parents are insistent upon her marrying a good, Indian boy.  This creates another conflict because her friend, Jules, also has feelings for Joe....IT IS A MESS.  Along with all of the other conflicts that arise from Jess's lying to her family, this movie is wildly entertaining.

                                        

    Like I have said in previous posts, I love a good sports-themed movie.  This movie is great because there is a good mix of sports, family drama, friend drama, and boy drama.  This movie contains an interesting blend of cultures and relationships.  One of my favorite parts of the entire movie is getting to see the customs of the Bhamra family as they prepare for their oldest daughter to get married. 

My entire family loves this movie because there is something in it for everybody!