movie: Bend It Like Beckham

[Guest guest]

My dearest friends and Siblings,

My husband and I just returned from the cinema.

We saw a wonderful movie, the best that I have seen in

years. I wish to describe it for you and recommend

that you all go to see it as soon as possible.

The title is "Bend It Like Beckham." It was made in

the UK and written by Indians, so do not expect the

ususal Hollywood trash.

Jessie is a young woman about 18 or 20, living

with her parents. They all live in London, but the

parents are immigrants from the Punjab part of India.

They are very devout and traditional Sikhs.

Jessie very much enjoys the game that is called

"soccer" in the United States but "football"

everywhere else. She loves playing the game, and she

is very good at it. She is invited to play on a team.

Her parents forbid this because it is in their

opinions not a proper activity for a good Indian girl.

She should instead spend her time learning to cook and

trying to find a proper Indian husband.

Jessie lies to her parents and plays football

against their wishes. She becomes very good at the

game, the star of her team. Eventually, of course, the

parents find out about the lie.

I shall not tell you what happens after that. Go

and see the movie instead. I recommend this because it

is a very emotional and skillful depiction of

conflicts: conflicts between British and Indian

cultures, conflicts between tradition and modernity,

conflict between parents and offspring. All of this is

done brilliantly.

Whom do I agree with in this movie? Someone of

Jessie's age is a woman, not a little girl, and

certainly should be able to pursue her dreams, no

matter what form they take or where they lead. She

needs to make her own decisions. On the other hand,

she should respect her parents and not lie to them.

The parents certainly have the right to advise

their daughter if they believe that she is making a

mistake. It is, however, unrealistic for members of a

small minority such as Sikhs living in London to

expect their offspring not to be influenced by the

surrounding majority culture.

Tradition is important. Following one's dreams is

important. But more crucial than everything else is

love. If the parents love their children, they will

want them to be happy, even if the road to happiness

is not one that they (the parents) chose. If the

children love their parents, they will honor and

respect them and never lie to them. Love requires

open, honest communication and mutual trust.

The movie is now playing in movie theaters here in

the USA.

 

Sister Usha Devi

 

=====

Sister Usha Devi

Founder, Divinely Female and worshipper of the Sacred Flame that shines inside

every woman

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Namaste, dear Usha Devi ...

 

Thanks for a great review. I saw the movie about a month back, and

was thinking of posting something about it here, but never did (a

horrible habit of mine lately). It really is a pleasant film (don't

worry, I won't say "the feel-good hit of the season!"), and a real

relief from the usual barrage of blockbuster fare we generally have

to suffer Stateside during the summertime.

 

Thanks again for the tip to our members -- for what it's worth, I

second the motion. ;-)

 

DB

 

, Sister Usha Devi

<sisterusha> wrote:

> My dearest friends and Siblings,

> My husband and I just returned from the cinema.

> We saw a wonderful movie, the best that I have seen in

> years. I wish to describe it for you and recommend

> that you all go to see it as soon as possible.

> The title is "Bend It Like Beckham." ...