Bend it Like Beckham
Higson’s conceptualisation
BFI conceptualisation of British Films (category 2)
Trailers – brief comparison
What expectations are set up? How do those expectations link with the concepts of identity and boundaries?
How is the encoder trying to position the decoder?
Film Posters
Formalist / Realist split – links to budget
Director
Gurinder Chadha, OBE, (born 10 January 1960) is an British film director of Indian origin. Most of her films explore the lives of Indians living in the United Kingdom. She is best known for the hit films Bhaji on the Beach (1993), Bend It Like Beckham (2002), Bride and Prejudice (2004) and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008). Her most recent project is the comedy film It's a Wonderful Afterlife released on 21 April 2010.
Key Scenes/clips
Film Opening Exposition. Two storylines; football wedding.
15mins Jules at home with Parents – similarities between parents – tensions between generations.
20 Mins Jess’s mother see her being ‘man-handled’ in the Park. Interestingly the Father pours a whisky.
34mins First sign of romance? Joe and Jess. Massaging her hurt foot.
38 mins wedding called off following ‘kiss’ between Jess and Jules
41 mins Culture Clash – Joe comes to Jess’ house
46 mins Joe and Jess ‘kiss’ in German nightclub
51 mins English Irish ‘joke’
57 mins Jules’ mum fears Jess and Jules have had a lover’s tiff.
1:03 mins Red Card ‘Paki’ racist abuse
1:05 mins Jess’s dad see Jess ‘n’ Jules hugging. Climatic tension set up. Wedding and Football final scheduled for same day
1:10 mins Jules’ mum is reconciled to her daughter playing football
1:15 mins Joe visits Jess’ house for second time during pre-wedding party
1:20 mins wedding day/football final
1:21 mins The ‘magical’ solution
1:25 mins Bend it Like Beckham moment
1:30 mins Jules’ mother Creates scene at wedding
1:40 mins Families united – happy ever after
Music Sequences
2 mins Shopping sequence tourist
11 mins Football Training sequence
24 mins Football training sequence – passing time
27 mins Changing room “it’s just culture isn’t it”
31mins Buying Football Boots
44 mins Germany football trip
1:01 mins Jess sneaks off to play semi final
1:12 mins Extended music sequence – after Jess receives exam results
Boundaries
Gender
Age
Ethnicity
Sexuality
(any others?)
Identity
Personal Identity – those things that identify us. Finger Prints, Passport etc
Social Identity – constructed by roles and how we believe we should act and more importantly how others react to our behaviour. Here we can be seen to have multiple identities/roles Daughter, Footballer, Student, Sister, and Sikh. Etc
Self-consciousness, which involves an awareness of ourselves as unique individuals.
