Bend It Like Beckham
Gurinder Chadha
© Kintop Pictures-Bend It FilmRoad Movies-Metropolitan Film Export
In a London suburb, Jess Bhamra, a young Indian-English girl dreams of football and her idol David Beckham. Whenever she can she plays with Tony and his friends, to the despair of her mother who wants her to prepare to marry a boy from the Sikh community, like her sister Pinky. She is spotted by Jules, a young English girl, and becomes a member of the local girls' team.
With : Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anupam Kher, Archie Panjabi, Shaznay Lewis
Screenplay : Gurinder Chadha, Guljit Bindra, Paul Mayeda Berges
Image : Jong Lin
Editing : Justin Krish
Music : Craig Pruess
Screenplay : Gurinder Chadha, Guljit Bindra, Paul Mayeda Berges
Image : Jong Lin
Editing : Justin Krish
Music : Craig Pruess
Production : Kintop Pictures, UK Film Council, Filmförderung Hamburg, British Sky Broadcasting, British Screen Productions
A surprise hit on its release, Bend It Like Beckham is influenced by director Gurinder Chadha's own life, particularly her conflicts with her father. But far from being a traditional English social film, from the outset the film is a pop comedy. Sport is seen as a catalyst for self-discovery in adolescence, and the footballing dreams of Jess and Jules are intertwined with Jess's mother's dream of her daughter having a good marriage. The film revealed Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley, who have appeared on the big screen on many occasions since. “The direction (...) is supported by a perfect cast, and at times takes a few welcome jabs at class, race and gender prejudice.” (N.T. Binh; Zurban)