Teenage comedy goes ethnic

In an endearing coming of age comedy, director and writer Gurinder Chadha takes audiences through the pivotal time in life for one traditional Indian girl living in England. Jesminder Bjamra, known as Jess, is played brilliantly by Parminder K. Nagra. Her story is one of the struggle of maintaining the traditions of her family while seeking her real dreams, which in this case is to play football (meaning soccer to us Americans).

Jess’ chance arrives when Juliette (Keira Knightley) notices her natural talent while she plays in the park, outdoing her male mates. She is invited to join the Hounslow Harriers, a real women’s soccer team. Thus begins a cycle of deceiving her parents and running off to practices without their knowledge. Her friendship with Juliette deepens and the potential for romance arises with the team’s rather young coach, Joe (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), providing all the elements necessary to a teenage comedy.

What gives this movie more depth are the cultural issues that underlie Jess’ problems. Her mother is constantly reminding her of an Indian girl’s two goals in life: to prepare the perfect Indian dinner, and to marry a good Indian boy. These goals leave no room for such foolish things as kicking a ball around on a field. The deep bonds of family in this culture are apparent as Jess struggles to love and respect her family while desiring to live her dreams.

The fun, lively soundtrack will keep audiences tapping their feet, and the colorful dress and food of the Indian culture, especially in the context of the traditional Indian wedding, is a delicious insight into another world.

This film has been compared to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and the genre of second and third generation young people in their struggle to break away from traditional parents has been developing in recent times as a popular area that appeals to a wide variety of audiences, as Bend It certainly proves.

Don’t let the soccer theme throw you; this film is not a sports movie. The title is taken from the famous British soccer player, David Beckham (also known as Posh Spice’s husband), as he is an icon for Jess and her dreams to be a soccer player and her own person.

My only problems with the movie were its length and its predictability. A story in which you know every event before it happens does not need to go on for nearly two hours. However, it is overall a delightful movie that should appeal to almost everyone, leaving audience members with a sense of happiness and perhaps an appreciation for the traditions their own families won’t let go of.