BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM

UK, 2002, 112 minutes, Colour.
Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Archie Panjabi, Frank Harper, Juliette Stevenson.
Directed by Gurinder Chadha.

Bend it Like Beckham was not only a surprise success in the United Kingdom but around the world. Somehow or other, this very cheerful film, focusing on girls who wanted to play soccer, was able to infiltrate the sensibilities of men and women everywhere.

The film was co-written and directed by Gurinder Chadha who, born in Africa of Indian parentage, growing up in England, directed a number of films including Bhaji on the Beach, What’s Cooking (in the United States), and the adaptation of Jane Austen to Bollywood, Bride and Prejudice.

The film stars Parminder Nagra who has appeared on television and on stage in the United Kingdom. It was also one of the earliest films of Keira Knightley who almost immediately went on to the first Pirates of the Caribbean films. While Jonathan Rhys Meyers had been in films for some time, this enhanced his popularity. He was to win a Golden Globe for his performance as Elvis Presley on the television series, Elvis. Frank Harper and Juliette Stevenson appear to advantage as Keira Knightley’s parents.

The very strong Indian cast, resident in the United Kingdom, take up the supporting roles including Archie Panjabi who appeared in many films including The Constant Gardener and the central role in Yasmin.

David Beckham spent many years as the idol of British soccer fans. He captained England for these years – and also married one of the Spice Girls, Posh Spice, Victoria. They are glimpsed right at the end of this film at the airport.

The film in fact runs according to formula, pleasantly so, about the girl who wants to do something which her parents disapprove of. She has to resort to subterfuge but eventually is found out. There are various ups and downs, especially emotionally and in relationships, but finally all works out at the end.

The film is nicely feminist in its tone with Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra playing soccer in the women’s English soccer team. They also get a scholarship to Santa Clara University at the end.

In the background, however, are glimpses of Indian culture, especially arranged marriages, the celebration for engagement, wedding celebrations. There is also the background of inter-family rivalry and odious comparisons. The film also touches on aspects of relationships and sexual orientation.

The film indicated an attitude towards India and Bollywood films and culture in the United Kingdom from 2002 on including Bombay Dreams in theatre, the popularity of distribution of Bollywood films in the UK as well as their appearance on television.

1. A pleasing film? Pleasing most audiences? The impact for the UK? Beyond? For Indian audiences and audiences of Indian origin?

2. The London settings, Hounslow and the area near Heathrow? The streets and homes, the shops, the playing fields? The Indian community? The Indian community amongst the white community? Separate but interacting? The parent and grandparent generation being more exclusive, the new generation standing in both worlds?

3. Indian colour, customs, ceremonies, traditions, religion? The exuberance? The Bollywood songs and dances – in real life? The breaking down of barriers between groups in the UK?

4. Jess and her place in the family, her relationship with her sister, the preparation for the wedding, her ability to play soccer, her joining the boys, skills, their slinging off, her besting them? Jules seeing her and being interested in having her on the team? Jess at home, her inability to cook, her mother’s fussiness, wanting her to learn? The shock of her playing football? Her father’s attitude, yet his memory of being ousted by the whites from the cricket team in Nairobi, taking it to heart, not playing cricket? The neighbours, their seeing Jess and Jules in the street and rushing to tell the family that she was kissing a boy? The humorous variation when they thought that she was lesbian? Her going out to games, being selected? The friendship with the girls on the team, the discussions in the locker room? Her relationship to Joe, attracted to him? Falling in love? Being caught out? Her going to Germany, the match, clubbing, the drinking, her kissing Joe, Jules upset, Jules and the break between them? Her father finding her with Joe after his watching the match? The build-up to her sister’s wedding, the shopping, her going to buy football boots? The grounding? Meeting Jules’s parents? The date for the wedding, her having to help, missing the practice? The wedding day, dressed up, the celebration? Her discussions with Tony, his friendship, sexual orientation, Tony pleading with her father, her father allowing her to go, the scout for America, success, her kicking the goal? The return, Tony and his offer of marriage, Jess and her telling the truth to the family? The father’s change of heart? The final support, seeing her off at the airport?

5. Jules, the English rose type, her relationship with her family, her mother and her fashion design, not understanding soccer? Her fear that her daughter was lesbian – and after being reassured saying she had nothing against this? The father and his being genial? The friendship with Jess, the games, the friendship with Joe, her jealousy, breaking the friendship in Germany? Her outings with her parents, their gifts? Her finally reconciling with Jess, the match, their success, going to America?

6. Jess’s parents, the mother, dominant, the father and his memories? In the household, the cooking, the traditions, the relatives, the extended family? The parents of their daughter’s fiancé, breaking off the engagement? The grief of the daughter, her wanting to be married, her love of clothes, Indian styles, telling Jess that she should marry, marry an Indian? Her blurting out the truth in anger against Jess? The engagement on again, the happy celebration? The parents, coming to terms with Jess’s choice?

7. Jules’s parents, their home, at work, the mother and her buying things for Jules? The father’s quiet tolerance? Going to the matches? Their meeting Jess, her visits to the house, the mother preparing the coffee and Jess being ousted by Jules? The mother learning what off-side meant? Reconciliation with her daughter? The happiness of the scholarship? At the airport?

8. The Indian boys and girls, the younger generation, very English in their manner, yet going home to Indian culture and Indian families? The boys at the soccer, slinging off at Jess? The girls and all their wanting to date boys and be married? Tony, his friendship, his homosexual orientation and Jess’s support?

9. The staging of the soccer matches? Joe, his Irish background, his injury, comparing his knee injury with Jess’s burns? His support of the girls, tough on them? Attraction to Jules and Jess? Jess and the attempted kiss in Germany? His having to cope, talking with Jess, his father and his shunning him? Jess urging him to talk with his father? His being offered the coaching position with the men, his turning it down, to stay with the women’s team? The farewell kiss at the airport?

10. The colourful Indian ceremonies? Personalities? Style? A nice blend of comedy and sentiment?