Movie Review

Directed by Gurinder Chadha, starring: Parminder Nagra (Jess), Keira Knightly (Jules), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Joe), 108 minutes, 2003.

Jess is an 18-year-old Sikh living in Britain. Her family is fairly traditional but she, contrary to expectations of young female behaviour, is a whiz of a soccer player. Her idol is David Beckham, (before he bolted to Spain for the Big Euros). One day Jules, the captain of the local women's team, sees her playing with the boys in the park and convinces Jess to meet the club's young and charismatic coach, Joe. He used to play professionally but an accident that tore up his knee has relegated him to the relative ignominy of coaching women's soccer. He sees the potential in Jess and together with Jules convinces her to play for the team.

This sets up a huge conflict with the family. Jess's sister is about to be married in a traditional ceremony and the family has the same expectation for Jess and doesn't want her unconventional, unfeminine activity to spoil her chances both for education and a good 'match'. Jess's father recounts his own experience twenty years ago of being a star cricket player in Nairobi but was "chased off the cricket grounds like a dog" by the "gora" who made fun of his turban. Jess tries to tell them that things have changed and that Hussein Nasser is now chair of the national team. Her mother dismisses the idea saying it doesn't count because "their families are different"; he's a Muslim! The story is full of such ironies and contradictions. The comedy revolves around misunderstandings of gender, sexual preference, intergenerational and racial expectations. Jess talks to (prays to??) a large poster of Beckham in her room in much the same way her mother prays to a portrait of Guru Nanak above the piano.

In the story, religion is understood as a factor of ethnic identity and exclusion. It heightens difference and erects walls rather than providing a bridge to understanding and acceptance. Christians along with those of most other religious groups expect youngsters to respect their elders and with that the conventions, traditions and moral assumptions they stand for. This is harder and harder to do. In the climate of a secular society religion is perceived to be a factor that threatens the peace, order and good government of a democratic society. In this story, Jess breaks many rules as she tries to carve out her life. She lies to her parents, flouts their moral codes and imposes on their confidence. At stake for her is the possibility of a full university scholarship to Santa Clara, California and perhaps a professional career not to mention her self-esteem.

However, she decides, under much pressure, to respect her parents' wishes and call off the football dream. Paradoxically, this act allows her father to show his wisdom, overcome his own emotional injuries and set her free. As in all good comedies, misunderstandings are overcome, reconciliation is achieved and lovers find each other. Relationships in families are difficult in a multicultural, fast paced and MTV world. Fruitful relationships between generations presuppose the capacity for self-sacrifice, forgiveness and love. Such values are not exclusively Christian but they are religious values.

This is a funny and poignant movie that could easily be used in confirmation, intergenerational dialogues, and youth group conversations about truth telling, social issues, personal dreams and "breaking away". Good music.