Summary
Bend it like Beckham is a film that follows the story of two ambitious 18 year old girls that both want to pursue a future in professional football.
Teenager Jessminder Bhamra(Jess for short) is crazy about football and has big dreams of playing football professionally, just like her idol David Beckham.
Though she only plays football in the park with her friends, she is naturally talented. One day, whilst playing, she is seen by Juliette Paxton(Jules for short) who plays in a girls football team(Hounslow Harriers) and asks Jess to try out for the team. Even though Joe is sceptical about a new player joining, he soon finds that Jess’ skills on the football field are amazing. Though playing football goes against Jess’ traditional Punjabi expectations, Jess is determined to play on Jules’ team regardless of what her parents think. On the other hand, Jules has a mother also has a mother that doesn’t want her daughter playing so much football, and instead try to be a little bit more feminine. Their kind team coach Joe, helps the girls overcome any of the obstacles they face.
When the team takes a trip to Germany, Jess develops an attraction towards Joe and when they’re out clubbing. Jules, who also liked Joe, found them almost sharing a kiss. When Jess visits Jules to try and fix their friendship, Mrs Paxton overhears their conversation and misunderstands the situation, thinking that Jules and Jess are lesbians.
In the lead up to their final game, where a scout was to be watching, the game clashes with the wedding of Jess’ sister, Pinky. Joe pleads Mr Bhamra to let Jess play but he refuses, revealing that he was discriminated when playing sport when he was younger.
As the game begins and Jess is at Pinky’s wedding she can't help but wonder how their game is going. Halfway through, Tony convinces Mr Bhamra to let Jess go play and he takes Jess to the game where their team was losing with half an hour left. When the score is tied, Jess gets a free kick and she must bend the ball around her opponents and into the goals. Jess scores and the Harriers win the tournament. Jules and Jess are also offered scholarships at Santa Clara University in California.
When Jules and Mrs Paxton arrive at the wedding, Mrs Paxton starts shouting at Jess about being a hypocrite and a lesbian, causing confusion throughout the family.
When Jess doesn’t tell her parents about the scholarship, Tony decides to step up and lie to them that he’s engaged to Jess as long as she gets to go to any college she wants to, to play football. Jess then tells her family the truth and Mr Bhamra decides to let her go to college just so she wouldn’t have to suffer like he did, living a life without her favourite sport.
When Jules and Jess are about to leave for California and are at the airport, Joe arrives and confesses his love to Jess. They share a kiss and agree to have a relationship and tell their parents when she returns. At the same time, David Beckham was also at the airport and Jess sees him in reality for the first time. The girls then leave and pursue their dreams in playing professional football.
After a while, the girls’ parents receive a team photo of them and it is shown that Pinky is pregnant. Also, Joe and Mr Bhamra have started playing cricket together.
Teenager Jessminder Bhamra(Jess for short) is crazy about football and has big dreams of playing football professionally, just like her idol David Beckham.
Though she only plays football in the park with her friends, she is naturally talented. One day, whilst playing, she is seen by Juliette Paxton(Jules for short) who plays in a girls football team(Hounslow Harriers) and asks Jess to try out for the team. Even though Joe is sceptical about a new player joining, he soon finds that Jess’ skills on the football field are amazing. Though playing football goes against Jess’ traditional Punjabi expectations, Jess is determined to play on Jules’ team regardless of what her parents think. On the other hand, Jules has a mother also has a mother that doesn’t want her daughter playing so much football, and instead try to be a little bit more feminine. Their kind team coach Joe, helps the girls overcome any of the obstacles they face.
When the team takes a trip to Germany, Jess develops an attraction towards Joe and when they’re out clubbing. Jules, who also liked Joe, found them almost sharing a kiss. When Jess visits Jules to try and fix their friendship, Mrs Paxton overhears their conversation and misunderstands the situation, thinking that Jules and Jess are lesbians.
In the lead up to their final game, where a scout was to be watching, the game clashes with the wedding of Jess’ sister, Pinky. Joe pleads Mr Bhamra to let Jess play but he refuses, revealing that he was discriminated when playing sport when he was younger.
As the game begins and Jess is at Pinky’s wedding she can't help but wonder how their game is going. Halfway through, Tony convinces Mr Bhamra to let Jess go play and he takes Jess to the game where their team was losing with half an hour left. When the score is tied, Jess gets a free kick and she must bend the ball around her opponents and into the goals. Jess scores and the Harriers win the tournament. Jules and Jess are also offered scholarships at Santa Clara University in California.
When Jules and Mrs Paxton arrive at the wedding, Mrs Paxton starts shouting at Jess about being a hypocrite and a lesbian, causing confusion throughout the family.
When Jess doesn’t tell her parents about the scholarship, Tony decides to step up and lie to them that he’s engaged to Jess as long as she gets to go to any college she wants to, to play football. Jess then tells her family the truth and Mr Bhamra decides to let her go to college just so she wouldn’t have to suffer like he did, living a life without her favourite sport.
When Jules and Jess are about to leave for California and are at the airport, Joe arrives and confesses his love to Jess. They share a kiss and agree to have a relationship and tell their parents when she returns. At the same time, David Beckham was also at the airport and Jess sees him in reality for the first time. The girls then leave and pursue their dreams in playing professional football.
After a while, the girls’ parents receive a team photo of them and it is shown that Pinky is pregnant. Also, Joe and Mr Bhamra have started playing cricket together.