neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Bend It Like Beckham
	Gurinda Chadha Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Juliet Stevenson, Anupam Kher, Archie Panjabi, Shaznay Lewis, Frank Harper 2002		A joyous, family-oriented, cross-cultural comedy from director/co-writer Gurinda Chadha, "Bend It Like Beckham" invites comparisons to "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," except that one of the films is an overgrown TV sitcom. The other is "Bend It Like Beckham" — a witty portrait of London teenager Jess, an Indian-English girl played with warmth and sparkle by novice actress Parminder Nagra. Jess is caught between her immigrant parents' traditional leanings and her own modern sensibilities. In particular, she's crazy about soccer, is fixated on the sport's most glamorous UK star, David Beckham, and has the skills to compete in the game. Because of her parents' restrictive view of "proper" female behavior, Jess goes behind their backs to join a local girls' team coached by a good-looking young man (Jonathan Rhys Meyers of "Velvet Goldmine") whose professional soccer career was cut short by injury. Despite obstacles, Jess refuses to give up her dream. In agreeable fashion, "Bend It Like Beckham" addresses the internal turmoil of England's growing Asian population and provides inspiration, as it prods laughter and a tear or two.