Bend It Like Beckham

[osprey_archer]

Earlier this month I was going through my movie collection, looking for movies directed by women, and discovered that Julie hadn’t seen Bend It Like Beckham. “We’re watching it tonight!” I commanded, and so we did. Such a good movie.

After Jules Paxton sees Jesminder Bhamra playing football in the park, she recruits Jess for the local girls’ team (AND ALSO REALIZES JESS IS HER SOULMATE, at least in my heart, although in actual fact there is a love triangle involving their coach). There follow - sports montages! Camaraderie! Jess’s attempts to practice football moves with a head of cabbage while her mother tries to teach her how to cook!

Jess’s and Jules’ parents are appalled by their daughters’ interest in sports, and go to some lengths to try to discourage them. In that sense it’s a pretty classic tomboy story, which is something I no longer seek out because I read so many of them as a kid - but it’s done so well and with such heart in this movie that it feels fresh. (And in any case, just because I personally have seen a plotline so many times that I’ve gotten tired of it doesn’t mean that there isn’t someone else out there who needs it and will love it.)

And, unlike in the classic tomboy story, Jess and Jules get to follow their tomboy bliss in the end! They head off into the sunset to play football together. What happier ending could you want?

I love this movie so much that I wrote a Yuletide fic for it a few years ago: Five Times Jess & Jules Kissed in Public. Outside of Captain America fics it’s probably one of the best and certainly one of the most popular things I’ve ever written.

***

Another discovery: Gurinder Chadha recently released a new film. It’s an “epic period drama that follows the last viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten, as he oversees the nation's seismic transition to independence in 1947,” called The Viceroy’s House. I love epic period dramas. Clearly I’ll have to see it!

Comments

[sovay]

And, unlike in the classic tomboy story, Jess and Jules get to follow their tomboy bliss in the end! They head off into the sunset to play football together.

That is excellent!

[osprey_archer]

It's an interesting take on the tomboy story. It takes a lot of the elements and does something different - so there is, for instance, one of those scenes where the characters have to get all dressed up in girly clothes, but it isn't treated as this big OH NO SHE'S HOT WHEN SHE'S FEMININE moment, or as being in some way opposed to her football dreams. She can play excellent football and occasionally get dressed up to go clubbing and it's all compatible.

[littlerhymes]

I trust Julie is thankful to you for amending this tremendous gap in her viewing history! I am always so charmed by this movie.

I love that their relationship is the core - Jess/Jules 4ever.

[osprey_archer]

I am still appalled that no one else remedied this gap in her viewing history years ago. How did she make it this far in life without Bend It Like Beckham? Do I need to check to make sure she's seen Miss Congeniality and Legally Blonde, too???

[littlerhymes]

GOSH! I mean. You probably should! Just to make sure! It's what any good friend would do.