Bend It Like Beckham (2002/2003)
I didn't see the big indie surprise
hit of last year, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," but
I've seen the one for 2003 and it has the unlikely
title of "Bend It Like Beckham." Sure it's warm and
fuzzy and, sure, it goes exactly where you expect
it to go but who cares? It's sweet, pleasant and full
of wonderful messages about overcoming the challenges
of sexism, ageism, racism and homophobia.
For those of you who just got electricity
(or who live in the U.S.), the titular Beckham is
a football player (that's soccer to us Yanks) in Great
Britain who is well noted for putting a spin on the
ball when he kicks it and scoring with some fantastic
arcing shots. The protag here, a young Sikh girl who
has lived her whole life in England, has a traditional
Indian family who doesn't think sports are a keen
idea for their teenage daughter. She, herself, has
other ideas.
The mother here is strictly one-dimensional,
a stereotype in Indian films that is beginning to
bug the crap out of me. Luckily, however, the father
is a much more textured character and helps to make
the film from getting too ridiculous. He's got a big
part in the film's plot and the actor in this role,
Anukam Kher, does an excellent job of it. His final
speech will bring a tear to your eye.
But, let's get to the point here,
and that is Jonathan Rhys- Meyers. Wow! Wow! Wow!
I know I saw him as a cute fey boy in "Velvet Goldmine"
but here he is just about the most romantic leading
man I've ever seen. He's so adorable and so spot-on
in "Beckham" that I literally swooned watching the
movie. When he appeared on the screen, I often gasped
at just how handsome and dreamy he was. But don't
get me wrong, his acting is simply amazing as well.
He practically drips with talent.
Of course, the whole cast here is
remarkable. Parminder K. Nagra could have been just
annoying as protag Jess, but she elevates this role
to a charming and sweet girl that we genuinely care
about. Keira Knightley is simply awesome looking and
provides just the right amount of support, even when
called upon to be a hurt and spiteful friend. She's
someone to watch for. Juliet Stevenson is wonderful
as Knightley's "concerned" parent. She has a bit of
a thankless role but performs with such insight that
we can't help but like her. Stevenson is such a remarkable
actress that she makes every scene she is in count.
A lovely bit of business that really sold me on her
in this movie is that every time she goes in her daughter's
room, she constantly picks a piece of clothing up
from the floor and folds it nicely in such an absent-minded
and motherly way. It's a delightful touch that, like
everything else in this movie, makes it real and remarkably
believable.
Writer and director Gurinder Chadha
based the film on her life, substituting soccer for
her passion of filmmaking. What she creates here is
a warm and wonderful film about families, coming of
age, love and being yourself. It's no surprise then,
in a film of this nature, especially since it's about
soccer playing girls, that sexuality is a theme of
the film as well. There are the typical mistakes of
the presumed lesbianism of the main characters, but
the film goes further to explore the notion of acceptance.
We've seen lots of "coming out" movies and lots of
movies about mistaken homosexuality, but few of them
have been as breezy and delightful as this film. Yes,
Stevenson goes a little bit over the top with it,
as the script asks her to do, but overall the film
is such a wonderful piece about acceptance that it's
easy to forgive such typicalities.
"Bend It Like Beckham" is a well-made,
well-acted film that should be the surprise hit of
2003. It's surely the most romantic Romantic Comedy
of the year. And the action (sports) scenes are well
presented and skillfully edited. Chadha proves herself
a filmmaker to watch as well. There have been many
films that could rightly be described as "delightful."
Add this one to that list.
Note:
The film was called "Kick It Like
Beckham" in some countries. The U.S. distributors
considered other names for the stateside release but
opted to go with the original title.
Beckham plays for Manchester United
(#7 - the same number Jess wears here) and is married
to Posh Spice. His image appears several times throughout
the film and he is impersonated near the end of the
film in a long shot.
The cast and crew sing Buster Poindexter's
"Hot Hot Hot" in scenes that run with the closing
credits.
Filmed in 2001, released in several
countries in 2002. The U.S. premiere was at the 2003
Sundance Film Festival before a limited release to
arthouse began in March. A thousand new prints were
added in April.
Viewed in April 2003 at the Dobie
with Amanda and Kahn.
