Intersectional Analysis of Bend It Like Beckham

It's about a high football team that doesn’t have enough money to play because of budget cuts. Jamal and his friends are torn. But there is a president of a sporting-good company that donates 20,000 dollars worth of equipment. But there is a cut. The only he will do that is he becomes the head coach.

The story of a miraculous Jordanian immigrant coach, refugee soccer team, and the transformation of a small Georgia town. This tale follows Luma Mufleh, a female youth soccer coach of the refugee team, the Fugees. Warren St.John takes us into the lives of children with diverse cultural backgrounds, and shows us how Luma had shaped them into the people they are today, simply by coaching them in the game of soccer. The settling of many refugees affected not only the refugees themselves, but many of the Clarkston residents as well. After the town of Clarkston had altered due to the relocation of many people retreating war-torn countries, it gave the townspeople a greater need to adapt than the refugees. Adapting to not only the physical changes in the environment, but also the hate and isolation

The theme of the book is to be patient. Being patient has a lot to do with Sarah who is the only girl on the football team. It took a while for Sarah to get on the football team, but her impressive kicking skills really showed why she should be on the football team. Sarah is the type of girl who workouts everyday and wants Vanden High School to win the state championship. At first Sarah had to wait for a week to get on the team because she disguised herself as a boy, which wasn’t the smartest idea, but a way to show off her talents.

In Alexandria 1971, high school football was a way of life, for everyone. So when a local school board was forced to integrate an all black school with an all white school, the foundation that football was set on would be put to the test. During this film, many of the characters face moral issues and dilemmas that change the way that they will see things forever. One of those characters includes Gerry Bertier who struggles to befriend his African American teammate, he also struggles to accept what is going on around him. Those are some of the biggest obstacles for a teenager from that time to face, most white families taught their children that the African Americans were trouble, to not go near them that they were animals. And consequently, to not disrespect their families they stayed away, believing everything that their parents had said, creating a disrespectful stereotype of African-American citizens.

In ‘Bend it Like Beckham’ the Indian culture is reconnoitered through conventional Sikh pious principles. For instance the importance of cultural rituals, cookery, clothing, the traditional role of a woman, and the particular importance given to elders (A. Ratna). The Indian Sikh culture integrates prayers into their daily life. For example, the Bhamra family hung a portrait of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism and Jess's mother is regularly praying and talking to the portrait. Unlike her mother, Jess has a portrait David Beckham, above her bed, and she is seen talking to the image about issues present on in her life. This portrait has a comparable part in Jess's life as that to the portrait of Guru Nanek.

Jess, in Bend It Like Beckham, has a goal, to play soccer professionally, that she wanted to accomplished. Jess pursued her dream throughout most of the movie. Of course, it would have been a generic movie if it was not for the fact that Jess was in an identity crisis situation on how to deal with her Indian culture and her gender since she “[has] to fight against traditional roles conferred on young women” (Chacko 84). With the help of some friends and family members, she managed to overcome all the obstacle that she encountered.

They considered it a “man’s sport.” They assume girls should be interested in traditionally feminine activities. Jules’ mother wanted her to dress nice and find a boyfriend. Jess’ mother wanted her to be a proper Indian woman. They feel that football is inappropriate for a girl to play.

I think that this movie shows one of the many historical events that took place in the U.S. during the 20th century that led to peace, as it is today, between blacks and whites. This football team kind of symbolizes the first step towards the future of blacks and whites in America- the country that we now call "the melting pot." Of course, change isn't all that easy, and it certainly wasn't for this football team. They started out hating each other, but slowly (with the help of their coaches), they came to respect and play as a team.

Overall, ‘Bend it like Beckham’ was an inspiring and comical film of the conflicts that arise in the clash of culture versus family/culture. Many themes were presented within the film such as wanting is will. This theme is explained with the constant perseverance of Jess, where she set a dream for herself and never gave up, in the end accomplishing what she dreamed for; her goal. Another theme explored was that of, your parents don’t always know what’s best for you. Times

This novel develops characters that engage in sex, to teachers cheating so their high school football players can continue to participate on the football field. Many people have a major affect on football and society in this novel. One of the major characters was Boobie Myles. Boobie was supposed to be the star athlete on the Permian football team. In the beginning, Boobie was arrogant to his teammates and wasn’t a good team leader. All Boobie cared about was winning and getting to the next level of football to satisfy his athletic needs. When Boobie is injured, he realizes he took football for granted and would do anything to play again. The team needs Boobie and Boobie needs the team. Coach Gaines realizes Boobie was seriously hurt and gives an inspiring pep talk to the team about how the players need to put their heart in the game and how lucky they are to be playing for Odessa.

The film wasn’t about that 13-0 record and winning a state championship, but the struggle that came with it and all the hardships they had to deal and get past. Racism, prejudice, compassion and love were all key aspects of this film as shown. The racism, prejudice of the team when they first met was severe and had been changed. The love and compassion came as the team grew to become one unit and love each other and be able to become something more powerful than they could be by themselves.

Through the use of cinematic techniques, Hidden figures, a movie directed by Theodore Melfi and Bend it like Beckham by Gurinder Chadha both explore the dangers that are inherent in a marginalised society. Each texts demonstrates that hope for change is needed in society as hope can build the momentum for an individual to strive. Through these texts we see that people have no conscience about harming others until they learn the truth about their circumstances. Both directors also emphasise that the abuse of power leads to corruption and this can be seen through the segregation between the black and white people in Hidden Figures and the way in which cultural values overrule the lives of the Bhamra’s in Bend it like Beckham. As an audience

I selected to do a cultural analysis on the movie “Bend It Like Beckham”. To give a rundown on the plot of the movie, there is a girl named Jess Bhamra, who is an Indian living in England. She is a very talented soccer player, but her parents will not permit her to play. One day, she meets a girl named Jules Paxton, who persuades Jess to play soccer. Throughout her time on the team, Jess has to make sure that her parents do not discover that she is playing professional soccer and that she has a growing crush for her coach, (Chadha, "Bend it like Beckham").

This creates humour and shows the conflict of culture. Jules’s mother believes that she should act like any other ‘normal’ female teenager. Whilst Jules believes that her enjoyment in playing football is not shameful, her mother simply stereotypes showing conflict of cultures whilst creating humour. We see this in one particular scene where Jules and her mother are in a bra shop, and Jules’s mother is demonstrating each bra’s functions to her. Jules not paying attention ignores her mother’s ‘advertising’.

Bend it like Beckham is a film that was written, directed, and produced by Gurinder Chadha, a British film maker who was grew up in India. The film focuses on the main character's desire to play football and the conflict she faces due to her obligations to her traditional Sikh family. The character, Jess Bhamra, must make the decision to pursue football or follow her parent's wishes and complete school and marry and Indian man. As Jess struggles to find her own identity without losing her family, she befriends a British footballer Jules. Jules' parents offer an interesting parallel to Jess' family, showing that although cultures may be very different in some ways, they are actually very similar in others. Director Chadha explains that