Synopsis
Jess Bhamra, the daughter of a strict Indian couple in London, is not permitted to play organized soccer, even though she is 18. When Jess is playing for fun one day, her impressive skills are seen by Jules Paxton, who then convinces Jess to play for her semi-pro team. Jess uses elaborate excuses to hide her matches from her family while also dealing with her romantic feelings for her coach, Joe.
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Cast
- Parminder NagraJesminder 'Jess' Kaur Bhamra
- Keira KnightleyJuliette 'Jules' Paxton
- Jonathan Rhys MeyersJoe
- Anupam KherMr. Bhamra
- Shaheen KhanMrs. Bhamra
- Frank HarperAlan Paxton
- Juliet StevensonPaula Paxton
- Ameet ChanaTony
- Archie PanjabiPinky Bhamra
- Shaznay LewisMel
Recommendations
- 100
Entertainment Weekly
The most exhilarating movie so far this year. It's made up of many familiar elements -- think ''Monsoon Wedding'' meets ''My Beautiful Laundrette'' meets ''Personal Best'' -- yet before long, you catch on to how buoyant and funny and original it is. - 91
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Terrifically fun entertainment; wonderfully shot and acted, instilled with spirit and life and able to woo us with its exhuberant freshness. - 80
Wall Street Journal
I'm still smiling as I recall Jess, the soccer star-to-be, standing behind her straitlaced mother in the kitchen and casually bouncing a head of lettuce on her knee. - 75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
Energetic, eager-to-please culture-clash comedy. - 63
Chicago Tribune
Much of the value -- entertainment and otherwise -- of seeing a culture-specific movie is to connect with a larger world than your everyday life offers. - 60
TV Guide Magazine
Lightweight, thoroughly charming fluff. - 50
New York Daily News
Director and co-writer Gurinder Chadha continues in the vein of her previous movies, "What's Cooking?" and "Bhaji on the Beach," exploring with humor and compassion how cultures adapt in foreign climes. - 50
Salon
Bend It Like Beckham is supposedly a movie about youth; its biggest shortcoming is that it rarely feels young.
