Like most everyone else in England, Jess Bahmra (Parminder Nagra) idolizes professional British football player David Beckham. But Jess is different from most fans; she's a talented player in her own right. Unfortunately, her traditional Indian parents (Anupam Kher and Shaheen Khan) have other plans for their youngest daughter. They expect Jess to follow in the footsteps of her sister, Pinky (Archie Panjabi), who is preparing to marry in a traditional Indian wedding. When Jess meets Jules (Keira Knightley), who plays for a local female football team, she pursues her own dream and begins to play, keeping her participation a secret from her parents and often leading to disastrous results. To complicate matters even more, both Jess and Jules are enamored with their coach, Joe (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Ultimately, Jess has to decide whether to live life on her terms or act in accordance with her parents' wishes. This charming coming-of-age tale is also an intriguing look at Indian culture in England. Juliet Stevenson is superb as Jules' tarty, ultra-feminine mother. BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is directed, written, and produced by Gurinder Chadha (BHAJI ON THE BEACH, WHAT'S COOKING?), and marks the first English feature film appearance from Bollywood icon Anupam Kher.
Theatrical Release Date: March 12, 2003 (NY/LA)
DVD Features:
Region 1
NTSC
Keep Case
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Surround - Spanish, French/Quebecois
Subtitles - English, Spanish - Optional
Additional Release Material:
Outtakes
Music Video
Deleted Scenes (10)
Audio Commentary: Gurinder Chadha - Director/Co-Writer
Featurette:
1. "Who Wants to Cook Aloo Gobi"
2. "Making of BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM"
Trailers:
1. International Theatrical Trailers
2. Product Trailers - Music Promo
Text/Photo Galleries:
Galleries: Recipe Gallery
Stars
Parminder Nagra: Actor, BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM (2003)
Keira Knightley: Actress, ATONEMENT, BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM (2002)
Jonathan Rhys Meyers: Actor, BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM (2003)
Anupam Kher: Actor, BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM (2003)
Archie Panjabi: Actor
Shaznay Lewis: Actor, BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM (2003)
Frank Harper: A ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS
Juliet Stevenson: British Actress
Director
Gurinder Chadha: Kenyan director, BHAJI ON THE BEACH/BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM
Producer
Deepak Nayar: Producer - "Lost Highway"
Gurinder Chadha: Kenyan director, BHAJI ON THE BEACH/BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM
Screenwriter
Gurinder Chadha: Kenyan director, BHAJI ON THE BEACH/BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM
Guljit Bindra: Screenwriter, BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM (2003)
Paul Mayeda Berges: Screenwriter, WHAT'S COOKING
Director of Photography
Jong Lin:
Music
Craig Pruess: Composer, WHAT'S COOKING
Review 1:
"Culture and sports have never clashed as winningly as in BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM....A rare amalgam of funny, sweet, action-packed and inspiring..."
Source: USA Today
p.4D 03/12/2003
Review 2:
"BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is the most exhilarating movie so far this year.....Made with a craftsmanship and pizzazz that restores your appreciation for honest commercial moviemaking..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.85 03/21/2003
Review 3:
"...A terrifically charming and energetic film about pursuing your dream..."
Source: Premiere
p.21 05/01/2003
Review 4:
"...Purely enjoyable...What makes is special is the bubbling energy of the cast and the warm joy with which Gurinder Chadha tells the story..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.5 04/06/2003
Review 5:
"...[The film] plays like a combo of LOVE AND BASKETBALL and a much better MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING..."
Source: Film Comment
p.66-8 03/01/2003
Review 6:
"...The large cast of characters is beautifully delineated....The movie's humor and rambunctiousness save the day..."
Source: Movieline's Hollywood Life
p.48-9 03/01/2003
Review 7:
"...Writer-director Gurinder Chadha juggles all the angles with flair and fairness. Like Nagra and Knightley, the movie is a sweetheart...
Source: Rolling Stone
p.77 04/03/2003