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Bend It Like Beckham
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Synopsis
An independent-minded young woman discovers the joys of football, much to her family's chagrin, in this upbeat British comedy drama. Jess Bhamra (Parminder Nagra) is an 18-year-old growing up in West London, where her family has taken every effort to stay in touch with its Indian heritage. Jess' father and mother (Anupam Kher and Shaheen Khan) are after their daughter to go to law school, learn to cook a traditional Indian dinner, and settle down with a nice Indian boy -- the latter of which is high on the agenda of her older sister Pinky (Archie Panjabi), who is soon to wed her longtime beau Teetu (Kulvinder Ghir). However, her family is unaware that Jess has a secret passion -- football (or soccer, as it's known in North America). While Jess' enthusiasm for football star David Beckham is obvious, given the fact his photos cover the walls of her room, her parents don't know that in her spare time she likes to play a friendly game in the park with some of the boys in the neighborhood. One day, while Jess and her pals kick the ball around, she meets Jules (Keira Knightley), who is quite impressed with Jess' skills. Jules plays with a local semi-pro women's football team, the Hounslow Harriers, and she thinks Jess has what it takes to make the team. Jess knows that her parents would never approve of their daughter playing football, so she doesn't tell them, and starts spinning an increasingly complex series of lies as she tries to keep up a double life as a student and a footballer. Jess soon discovers a number of her new friends have their own problems to overcome; Jules dreams of playing pro ball in America, but has to deal with her stubborn and disapproving mother (Juliet Stevenson), while Joe (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), Hounslow's Irish coach, still struggles with the disappointment of a career as a professional athlete which was dashed by a knee injury. Bend It Like Beckham was a significant box-office success in Great Britain and Europe, but didn't reach American theaters until nearly a year after it debuted in the U.K. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Cast

Juliet Stevenson Paula
Shaheen Khan Mrs. Bhamra
Anupam Kher Mr. Bhamra
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers Joe
Keira Knightley Juliette "Jules" Paxton
Parminder Nagra Jesminder "Jess" Bhamra
Ameet Chana Tony

Production Crew

Gurinder Chadha Director
Simon Franks Executive Producer
Zygi Kamasa Executive Producer
Deepak Nayar Producer
Gurinder Chadha Producer
Guljit Bindra Screenwriter
Gurinder Chadha Screenwriter
Paul Mayeda Berges Screenwriter
Year: 2002
Runtime: 112
Country: UK
MPAA Rating: PG13
for language and sexual content
Category: Feature

Genre
Comedy Drama

Release
March 12, 2003 (USA - Limited)
by Fox Searchlight

Awards
2003 - Best Picture - Musical or Comedy - Golden Globe
2003 - Special Recognition for Excellence in Filmmaking - National Board of Review