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BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM (HDNET KIDSCENE)

Bend It like Beckham is a fantastic movie with a great plot and talented cast. This movie kept me on the edge of my seat.

I am fascinated by the main character Jess Bhamra, played by Parminder Nagra. It is easy for me to relate to Jess as a teenage girl who loves the game of soccer. The movie is set in West London and introduces us to Jess's very traditional East Indian family who does not believe that girls should play sports. Jess refuses to give up soccer even when it means lying to her parents.

The story becomes even more fascinating when Jess meets Jules, played by Keira Knightley. It's friendship at first sight and Jules convinces Jess to join the girls' soccer team. A conflict builds when both girls develop feelings for their soccer coach Jo, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Life for Jess gets worse when her parents find out about the soccer team. Jess's parents become even stricter about what she is allowed to do. Thankfully, her sister's wedding distracts Jess's parents and they do not notice that she is still sneaking off to play soccer. The girls' soccer team makes it to the top of their league and Jess must make an important decision. She can either live a life making her parents happy, or live a life chasing her dreams. Jess also has to find a way to make things right with her best friend Jules.

My favorite part of the film is the climax. Jess is taking the final kick in the last game of the season. Everyone is watching including a soccer scout from America. Right before she takes the kick, Jess visualizes the players on the other team as her family members. This is a brilliant way of showing that Jess was not going to let her family stand in the way of her dreams. The message of this film is reaching your goal is not always easy but it is always worth it.

The movie also does a great job of showing the East Indian culture through its costume and set designs.

I recommend this movie for girl's ages 13 to 16 and I give this movie four out of five stars. Reviewed by Simone S. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13.

I love this film. It touches me in so many ways but mostly because of the courage we see in this young girl to pursue her own dreams in spite of her family's traditional values. She does it with grace and courage and does her best to not be disrespectful in any way. It makes a wonderful statement about standing up for yourself.

The daughter of strict Indian parents defies her family and joins a soccer team instead of planning for a traditional life of marriage and motherhood.