Bend It Like Beckham

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Okay, who’s this Beckham guy and what in the world does it mean to bend it like him? This is a most peculiar, almost indecipherable title, and I think that it’s the reason I continue to find hoards of people who haven’t seen this funny film. Faces scrunch-up, heads turn curiously and then the same question, “What’s a Beckham, and why is it bent?”

Bend It Like Beckham is not heavy fare, but a fun-loving, feel-good film that takes you on a trip to a neighborhood in London. Here, while you view the localized world of a female soccer league, you’ll find out what it means to “bend it like Beckham.” You also learn; who Beckham is without really seeing him, that prejudice runs blind to color in every direction and that the rest of the world really hasn’t heard of women’s liberation, yet.

As plans are being made for the wedding of her older sister, Jess Bhamra (Parminder Nagra) spawns an untraditional conflict within her very traditional Sikh family. Although not belabored, the point is often made that while Sikh women may play important roles in Sikh society ... they don’t play soccer! They get married, have children and take care of their husbands.

While part of the movie weaves, a bit clumsily, the on-again, off-again wedding plans with the scenes of Jess’s efforts to “bend it,” very little footage is actually dedicated to soccer. There are few practice scenes and fewer game scenes. This is good for those out there that think, “Soccer, isn’t that what those silly European’s call football?” but this may be a little disappointing for soccer fans.

The real core of this story begins when the teenage Jess gets drawn into a local women’s soccer league by new friend, Jules (Kiera Knightley). Jules convinces Jess that she has real talent and needs to take advantage of a team opening. Jess makes the team but is averse to telling her family about this personal victory and the rest of story follows the typical, but humorous, hide-and-seek routine. Finally, she can no longer avoid the fact that the all important play-off’s and her sister’s wedding are on the same day and she is forced to follow the path of family tradition. But ... it all works out. You knew that, didn’t you?

This piece, by director Gurinder Chadha, is a perfect outing for families, for those in need of a film where something isn’t being blown up, or for those of you who are tired of playing mental chess in order to understand what’s going on. For fans of Bollywood, there is even the traditional song and dance performance, right near the end, so that you leave with a smile. Whether or not it’s possible to bend it like Beckham, it’s impossible not to like this film.