Bend It Like Beckham 2002
This movie is more for girls who want to be told that they can do anything they put their mind to. But it is still enjoyable without the message. The main character is a high school aged girl from an Indian family living in Britain. Her parents are very traditional while she struggles to co-exist in that traditional world and the one she is in when she’s away from her family. She is very good at soccer, but this is not seen as appropriate by her parents. I like how this conflict isn’t the focus of the movie and the main character, rather than just rebelling against her parents, instead tries to respect the old ways while finding a way to do something she enjoys and at which she excels. Nobody is wrong, they just have viewpoints. That is a more realistic tone. It also is not the entire focus of the movie as the girl develops a friendship with one of her teammates (Keira Knightley in a very different role as a tomboy) and finds some romance. It can’t entirely shake the preachiness and sometimes plays a little too much like My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but is still enjoyable. For women and girls of this age, I can see how they might like the movie more than I did. B.
Written: 04 Oct 2009
Owned on: Digital