Bend It Like Beckham [PG]

Jess is 18, smart, pretty, and can play football better than any of the guys she knows. But her mum and dad disapprove of her playing and want her to settle down and learn to cook like a good Indian wife. But then Jess meets Jules and joins the Hounslow Harriers, an all-girls team, and as her talent gets better and better it becomes harder and harder to keep if from her parents. To make matters worse, her sister Pinky is getting married and soon, Jess finds herself having to choose between her doing her family proud or doing what she loves. 

A fun film that’s inspiring, uplifting, charming, and funny, Bend It Like Beckham is a wonderful film that greatly shows what happens when cultures clash. It’s got such great heart, a great cast, and it’s a film that I can always come back to. 

Jess is 18, smart, pretty, and can play football better than any of the guys she knows. But her mum and dad disapprove of her playing and want her to settle down and learn to cook like a good Indian wife. But then Jess meets Jules and joins the Hounslow Harriers, an all-girls team, and as her talent gets better and better it becomes harder and harder to keep if from her parents. To make matters worse, her sister Pinky is getting married and soon, Jess finds herself forced to choose between doing her family proud or doing what she loves. 

What I particularly love about this film, aside from both the dramatic and comedic things that result from culture clash, is the fact that this film is an excellent story of belonging and acceptance. And this is evident in all the characters, not just between Jess and her family, but between Jules and her mother, played so perfectly by Juliet Stevenson. Without wanting to give too much away, there are some really wonderful misread signals and situations that make for great entertainment as well as convey poignant messages about acceptance and love. 

Armed with its great story of power, defiance, and following your heart, not to mention its funky and uplifting soundtrack, which features a great blend of Indian music as well as hits from Texas and Blondie, Bend It Like Beckham is the perfect film for a quiet night in. It’s short, fun, light, and just great. 

Starring Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Anupam Kher, Archie Panjabi, Shaheen Khan, Ameet Chana, Juliet Stevenson, and Frank Harper, Bend It Like Beckham is a great film filled with sport, romance, drama, friendship, comedy, and great Indian food and outfits. No matter how many times I watch this film, I never get tired of it.