Bend It like Beckham (2002)
Genre: Comedy / Sport
Duration: 112 minuten
Country:
United Kingdom / Germany / United States
Directed by: Gurinder Chadha
Stars: Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley and Jonathan Rhys Meyers
IMDb score:
6,7 (119.207)
Releasedate: 11 April 2002
Bend It like Beckham plot
"Sometimes, to follow your dreams... you've got to bend the rules!"
Like so many football crazy youngsters, Jess wants to play football like David Beckham. Her traditional parents would rather see her go to law school, live with an Asian boy and learn how to prepare Indian food. Jules is the star player of Hounslow Harriers, who spots Jess kicking a ball in the park. She persuades Jess to come to the training. Not much later, Jess sneaks out of the house at every opportunity to work on her dribbling, rounding and free kicks. When Jess's parents find out what she's up to, things naturally catch on. Meanwhile, Jules' mother Paula is terrified that Jules' soccer obsession is turning her into a screaming lesbian.
Actors and actresses
Jesminder 'Jess' Kaur Bhamra
Juliette 'Jules' Paxton
Mr. Bhamra
Mrs. Bhamra
Alan Paxton
Paula Paxton
Tony
Pinky Bhamra
Mel
Reviews & comments
sinterklaas
-
- 11744 messages
- 3280 votes
A light-hearted story about an emancipating Indian girl Jess versus her deeply religious family, in which especially her mother is as paranoid as the plague. Men's things are a big taboo, so also football, which is exactly what Jess is interested in. And well, what does the film want to say (again), a belief and your own wishes and identity go like water and fire, but unfortunately it doesn't stop there.
Jess is portrayed very nice and fresh by Nagra, and her best friend Jules is allowed to take on the then very young Knightsley. You could almost say that she is 10 years older than 17. Also surprising to see Rhys Myers here as a little boy. The film is still well built up, just a pity that it wants to get a bit over the top here and there and the choice of music was not always appropriate. Fortunately, it wasn't as bad as such a screaming American teen comedy and they also dare to burn their fingers with complexity.
Great to shred. But a comming out movie, as mentioned above? Did I miss something?
3.5*
IH88
-
- 9427 messages
- 3155 votes
“I didn't ask to be good at football, Gura Nanak must have blessed me.”
The positivity radiates from it. The struggles of an Indian girl in London is nicely done, although it doesn't go very deep. The film remains light-hearted and upbeat and Jess's loyalty problems between football and her family are solved in no time. Nagra, Knightley and Rhys Meyers have great roles and the other actors do well too. The football scenes are very poorly filmed. Bend It Like Beckham is as light as a feather and a nice coming of age movie.
Woland
-
- 4511 messages
- 3644 votes
That didn't work out. I like football, I was in the mood for something light, and actually also in a comedy. Other than the second, I came home from a rough patch - there wasn't a funny moment in sight (I couldn't deal with the many Indian stereotypes either, maybe funnier if you're from that culture), and there wasn't a lot of football involved and what was discussed was extremely amateurish. It's especially predictable feel-good for a teenage audience, in which two girls (one of Indian descent) pursue a football career. And yes, you can draw the rest, parents who do not agree, quarrels and make amends, love troubles, not so much football, but of course a happy ending with a goal in a final. Yawn. Even a young (and bone-thin) Keira Knightley and a Parminder Nagra who plays well in themselves are not able to pull the film to a satisfactory level. I can cross it off, and can also promise that I won't put it on again.
Trending Movies
Corporate & Media
Realtimes Network
Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31(315)-764002
Realtimes Network
- Sign up |
- Contact Us |
- About Us |
- Advertise |
- Privacy |
- Disclaimer |
- RSS Feed
© 2025 MovieMeter B.V.