Stars: Parminder K. Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Archie Panjabi

Director: Gurinder Chadha

Summary: An exploration of the world of women's football which follows two eighteen-year-olds who have their hearts set on a future in professional soccer.

Jess Bhamra (Parminder K. Nagra) wants two things--to become a great football player like David Beckham and to find a nice boyfriend. And she soon gets a chance at both when she befriends Jess (Keira Knightley), joins her football team, and falls for the coach, Joe (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers). However, her traditional Indian family frowns on the entire scenario, instead encouraging her spend time in the kitchen learning recipes for aloo gobi and chapatti. And it doesn't help that Jess also has a crush on Joe. Combining good-natured humour with football, drama, and romance, Gurinder Chadha's BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is a winning comedy with heart.

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For all its light-hearted comic interludes, Bend it like Beckhamtackles contemporary issues of cultural clashes, female independence and the importance of family. Director Gurinder Chaddha tells the story of Jess Bhamra (Parminder K Nagra), a young girl brought up within the traditional boundaries of a Sikh family who manages to live out her fantasies in an uproarious way. Despite her parent's grounded roots the anglicised Jess joins the Hounslow Harriers and, with the help of her friend Jules (Keira Knightley), sneaks out of the house to follow her dream of playing alongside all-time hero David Beckham.

The film draws interesting parallels between the two girls, one British and one Asian, highlighting that although their colour may be different many of their ideals are the same. Jules' British mother is no less horrified by her daughter's natural talent in soccer than Mrs Bhamra, and even mistakes one embrace between the girls as a lesbian relationship. Refreshingly, though, for once the parents are not portrayed as unreasonable: their disapproval of Jess' chosen path is a result of their concern for her, and in the end they can't help but to give in to her dreams. All in all, this is a film that shows the meaning of being British Asian today--and how it is possible for Asian girls to make round chapattis as well as to bend it like Beckham. --Anika Puri

Aspect Ratio:	16:9 Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Audio Commentary By Director And Co Writer, Behind The Scenes, Premiere Footage, Outtakes, Deleted Scenes, Director Demonstrates Cooking, Animated Intros And Menus
Year:	2002
Release Date:	November 18, 2002
Runtime:	113 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	D 093472
Keywords:	Like, Comedy, General, Wide, Screen, Beckham, Bend
Genre:	Comedy