Bend it Like Beckham

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.