Bend It Like Beckham - Gurinder Chadha Flashcards
About movie
“Bend it like beckham” by Gurinder Chadha - an woman who has Indian origin - coming of age film
Religion - punjabi
Shows struggle of gender roles in modern society- men work + play sport - play sport - women - cook, clean and run household.
Also shows - family keeps you back - religion/”normality” - Jess - football - can’t marry a “Gora” white bloke - Tony - gay - mother wants him to marry “nice Indian women”
Expectations - Joe - dad wanted to him b footballer- led to the falling out
Important aspect - sexuality - jules mother thinks lesbian because of football - small minded - stereotyping
Parents have to realise and accept their children becoming adults having own hopes and dreams.
Jess
Wants to be a professional footballer
Loves Beckham
Outgoing
Independent
Rebellious
Determined to pursue her dreams
“Who wants to cook Aloo Gobi when you can bend the ball like beckham.” - sums up Jess and dilemma she faces - mother making her do “traditional roles”
Has a crush on joe - “do you really want to be the one everyone stares at at every family do because you married the English bloke?”
“Gora” - slang word - what Joe is called.
Just coz “tomboy” - not mean she’ll marry and have children
Jules
Athletic Outgoing Friendly Understanding Fancies Joe Has her dad to support her From a Middle class white family Only child (expectations from mother to be more feminine) Approached Jess first Acts like an older sister to Jess Just coz "tomboy" - not mean she'll marry and have children
Tony
Passionate about football
Homosexual
Very close with Jess
Scared our coming out as gay because he thinks his family won’t accept him
His mother wants him to marry a nice Indian woman
Only character that is homosexual- not expect to be gay because he fulfils gender expectations by playing football.
Joe
His parents expected him to be a footballer but he didn’t want to.
He tried to please his parents by playing football but injured himself.
He is embarrassed to say he coaches the girls football team.
He is discriminated against for being Irish.
Misé en scene
Second scene - Jess room covered football posters.
Beckham post - like shrine to God - realise he’s her idol.
Jessminder parents
Wants girls to be “proper Indian girls.”
“When those bloody English cricket players threw me out of their club like a dog…I never complained. On the contrary, I vowed that I will never play again. Who suffered? Me. But I don’t want Jessie to suffer.” - reason he doesn’t want Jess to play - not want her to suffer because of religious discrimination.
Mrs bhamra- wants Jess learn to cook/be a good wife.
Jules parents
Jess - not Indian name - saying she cooked curry last week -mother stereotyping
Mother - wants jules be more feminine
Mrs Paxton - overhears loves tiff - jumps to conclusions/stereotypes- that jules and Jess are gay.
Mr Paxton - excepts juleps love of football
Mrs Paxton - tries like football for the family
