Bend It Like Beckham(2002)
dir. Gurinder Chadha
A Punjabi girl, a soccer ball, and a family wedding.
Where to watch: Disney+; rent $3.99 on Amazon and Fandango At Home (JustWatch US)Letterboxd ↗
Jess is a British Punjabi eighteen-year-old in West London who plays soccer better than anyone in her park, and her parents want her to learn to cook a full Indian dinner. She joins a women's team behind their backs, falls for her coach, and has to find a way to be both daughters at once. It's a comedy with a wedding, an ugly sports bra and a lot of heart.
Why it’s here
The film makes a joke out of the fight between family expectations and a girl's ambition, and the girl wins on her own terms. What's punk is that Jess isn't asked to choose between her people and her game. What's pedagogical is how it handles racism, sexism and homophobia in a form a family can watch together. Pairs with Persepolis and Funny Boy.
Where This Film Lives
- Setting
- United Kingdom • India • Europe • South Asia
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