Bend It Like Beckham

This topic contains:

• details about Bend it Like Beckham’s classification and consumer advice lines
• extract from the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) decision about classification
• a review of Bend it Like Beckham completed by Young Media Australia (YMA) on 9 July 2002.

About the movie

This section contains details about the movie, including its classification by the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) and the associated consumer advice lines.

Extract from the OFLC decision about classification

Synopsis

A young woman’s obsession with playing soccer is hampered by her families’ equally obsessive attempts to prevent her from straying from her cultural roots.

Reasons for the decision

When making this classification decision the Classification Board (the Board) followed the procedure set out in the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (the Act). The Board also applied the National Classification Code and the Classification Guidelines, while taking into account matters set out in Section 11 of the Act.

The National Classification Code (the Code) Table 6 states that:

Films (except RC films, X films, R films, MA films and M films) that cannot be recommended for viewing by persons who are under the age of 15 years without the guidance of their parents or adult guardians will be classified PG.

In the Board’s view this film can be accommodated within the PG classification. It contains depictions or references which could be confusing or upsetting to children without adult guidance, however the material in this film will not be harmful or disturbing to children.

The film contains coarse language such as “shit”, “bitch” and “bastard” that is considered by the Board to be mild and infrequent but cannot accommodated at a lower classification. There are also verbal references to sexual activity that are discreet such as, at 64 minutes when a small group of boys at .he girls’ football exchange comments on the sizes of the breasts and at 91 minutes when Jesse hugs and kisses Jules after scoring a goal, Jules’ mother jumps to the conclusion that they are lesbian. The dressmaker (32 minutes) making to Jess’ breast size, reassures her mother with the comment, “These mosquito bites will soon look juicy mangoes!”

Some parents may chose to preview this material or watch it with their children. For others it may be sufficient to be accessible during or after the viewing to discuss the content.

Section 11 of the Act, states:

The matters to be taken into account in making a decision on the classification of a publication, film or computer game include:

a) the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults; and

b) the literary, artistic or educational merit (if any), of the publication, film or computer game; and

c) the general character of the publication, film or computer game, including whether it is of a medical, legal or scientific character; and

d) the persons or class of persons to or amongst whom it is published or is intended or likely to be published.

YMA review

This review of the movie Bend it Like Beckham contains the following information:

• a synopsis of the story
• use of violence and material that may scare children
• sexual references
• nudity and sexual innuendo
• use of alcohol and other drugs
• coarse language
• the movie’s message
• overall comments

A synopsis of the story

“No-one can bend a ball like Beckham” is the catch phrase of Jess (Jessminder) an Indian teenager brought up in England who loves playing football with her mates. Her idol is Beckham and she dreams of playing with him and kicking the winning goal. However, her parents have very traditional Indian beliefs and a girl playing football is not part of them. Jess’s parents forbid her to play the game but she disobeys them and continues to play anyway. She is very good at the game and is noticed by a girl, Jules, who is a member of the local girls’ football team, the Hounslow Harriers. Jules encourages her to try out for the team.

The coach, Joe, takes a liking to Jess and, impressed by her obvious skills, gives Jess a position in the team. This requires lying to her parents about what she is doing—she pretends she has a part time job, and sneaks out when they are not around. Jess isn’t comfortable doing this but her love for playing football overrides this and her friends encourage her to go against her parents' wishes and break the rules.

The story continues as Jess’s football team travels to Germany for a game and reaches the finals. The story is intertwined with that of her older sister, Pinky, who is engaged to be married to an Indian boy and whose relationship is directly affected by Jess’ s behaviour. The engagement is cancelled by the boy’s family because of what they deem to be inappropriate behaviour by Jess, but they are later reunited as the parents relent. The comparison is made between Jess who wants to break the rules and Pinky, who on the surface is following a more conventional lifestyle, but actually is just as rebellious as her sister.

Jess and Jules both fall for Joe which causes a rift between the two friends and which is misinterpreted by Jules’s mother. This also causes further dilemma for Jess as she knows her family won’t accept Joe.

The major problem for Jess comes when the finals of the football are scheduled on the same day as Pinky’s wedding. Jess has to forgo the game out of loyalty to her family. However at half time Jess’s Dad lets her go to play and she wins the match by scoring two goals. Jess and Jules are selected by an American scout who offers them scholarships to attend college in America and play professional football. This, of course will be unacceptable to Jess’s parents but she decides to be honest with them about the offer. Much to her surprise her Dad agrees and Jess goes on to be a top player for England.

Use of violence and material that may scare children

• Low level violence on the football field is probably an accepted part of the game. However at the beginning when Jess is playing with her mates, she gets annoyed by a comment one of them makes and kicks the ball purposefully at his groin.
• A fight breaks out at the wedding reception for an undetermined reason but could have been caused by a couple found passionately kissing in the kitchen.
• Jess and Jules tackle Joe at one stage in a comic context. (female characters against the male).
• A very young child may be disturbed by the disfiguration of Jess’s leg caused by burns from a cooking accident.

Sexual references

• Jules’s mother tries to get her to wear ‘pump up’ bras to improve her cleavage. She shows her own cleavage off always.
• Measuring girls’ breasts for bridal fitting, the dressmaker states she can “even make these mosquito bites look like juicy, juicy mangoes”.
• “He can shag who he wants” is stated at one time.
• Gay relationships—Jules’s mother mistakenly believes Jules and Jess have a lesbian relationship which she is obviously horrified about. Jess’s friend Tony admits to being gay.

Nudity and sexual innuendo

• Sexual innuendo—scene where jet is taking off, Pinky and her fiancé are in the car, which is bouncing up and down and they are in a state of undress. It shows Pinky’s obvious disregard for her parents’ traditional beliefs.
• There is no nudity, but girls shown dressing and undressing for match down to very brief underwear.
• A couple briefly seen kissing very passionately at the wedding reception again to show disregard of cultural beliefs.

Use of alcohol and other drugs

• Jules is seen drinking at a pub.
• After match in Germany, the team goes out clubbing where all are drinking alcohol including Jess. She is obviously not used to drinking and becomes quite sick after a ‘couple of wines’. She has to leave the club and she is followed out by Joe. They end up in each others’ arms and are about to kiss when they are discovered by Jules. Jules is very hurt about this as she also has feelings for Joe.
• The fight at the wedding is also probably due to alcohol consumption.

Coarse language

• The words “bloody” and “bleeding” are used quite frequently.
• The words “bastard”, “shit”, “piss”, “sluts”, “Jesus” and “God” are used occasionally.

The movie’s message

• The main theme of this film is the cultural clash and the difficulty faced by parents who try to hold on to traditional values from their homeland while their children are being raised in a society with opposing values.
• Values shown in the movie that parents may wish to encourage include: courage, determination, loyalty and cultural harmony.
• Values shown in the movie that parents may wish to discourage include: disobeying parents, lying , deceit and disrespect.

Overall comments

This is a film that would appeal to many adults. The acting is well done with the characters well developed. The humour is very good and takes a light hearted look at cultural differences. The film addresses racial issues and exposes a culture that is often not seen at the movies. It shows girls being capable of doing something that is traditionally male. It also shows girls achieving without having to conform to accepted standards such as having great bodies. It is also about being able to change the rules with positive outcomes. Overall it is a very entertaining and enjoyable film.

There is little in this film that is scary for young children. Some parents may prefer not to expose their very young children to the coarse language and sexual innuendo in the movie.

Some parental guidance may be necessary in respect of the coarse language and sexual references.

Again the coarse language and sexual references may require some parental guidance for children over twelve.