- Jess Bhamra dreams of playing professional football, but her Sikh parents have plans for her: a law degree and a marriage. Jules, a white female striker, spots Jess playing football and invites her to join the local women's team.
- A kaleidoscope of color and culture clash humorously as an Indian family in London tries to raise their soccer-playing daughter in a traditional way. Unlike tarty elder sister Pinky, who is preparing for an Indian wedding and a lifetime of cooking the perfect chapatti, Jess' dream is to play soccer professionally like her hero David Beckham. Wholeheartedly against Jess' unorthodox ambition, her parents eventually reveal that their reservations have more to do with protecting her than with holding her back. When Jess is forced to make a choice between tradition and her beloved sport, her family must decide whether to let her chase her dream...and a soccer ball.
- A comedy about bending the rules to reach your goal, Bend It Like Beckham explores the world of women's football, from kick-abouts in the park to freekicks in the Final. Set in Hounslow, West London and Hamburg, the film follows two 18 year olds with their hearts set on a future in professional soccer. Heart-stopping talent doesn't seem to be enough when your parents want you to hang up your football boots, find a nice boyfriend and learn to cook the perfect chapatti.—Anonymous
- Teen-aged Londoner Jesminder Bhamra - Jess for short - is fanatical about football. She even uses a poster of her idol, footballer David Beckham, as her confidante. Although she only plays in pick-up games in the park with her male friends, she is naturally gifted at it. She's spotted by Juliette Paxton - Jules for short - who plays in a local women's league, and who talks Jess into coming to try out for her team. Jules has aspirations of playing in the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) professional league in the United States. Playing organized sports goes against Jess' traditional Punjabi parents' wants for her - especially her mother's - which are to go to law school and to learn how to cook Punjabi food so that she can attract a nice Punjabi husband. But Jess is determined to play on Jules' team regardless of her parents. Jess sees Jules as having the perfect situation, not realizing that Jules also has a mother who doesn't want her daughter to focus so much attention on football, but for slightly different reasons. The team's compassionate and sympathetic coach Joe tries to help Jess overcome any of these obstacles in whatever way he can. Jess has to try and reconcile these two aspects of her life, especially in the lead up to the final game at which an American scout will be in attendance who may be able to get both Jules and Jess one step closer to playing in the WUSA league if he likes what he sees. The game also unfortunately coincides with the rescheduled wedding of Jess' sister.—Huggo
- Of East Indian origin of the Sikh faith, the Bhamra family have been settled in Great Britain for several years. They have two daughters, Pinky and Jessminder. While Pinky is in the process of getting married, Jessminder is preparing to play football - which is not acceptable to her parents. But Jessminder knows she is good at the sport, and she does receive considerable encouragement. Her parents are clearly uncomfortable with their daughter running around in shorts, chasing a big ball, instead of being clad in a traditional salwar khameez, and learning to cook East Indian recipes. Jessminder must now decide what's important for her. To make matters worse, a football tournament is arranged on the very day of her sister's marriage. Will Jessminder be able to play, or will her dreams be shattered?—rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)
- Jesminder "Jess" Bhamra (Parminder Nagra) is the 18-year-old daughter of Punjabi Sikhs living in London. Juliette "Jules" Paxton (Keira Knightley) is the same age and the daughter of an English family. Jess is infatuated with football but because she's a woman, her family won't let her play. However, she sometimes plays in the park with other boys and her best friend, Tony (Ameet Chana) who is a closet homosexual. Jules discovers Jess' skills whilst on a jog through the park. She befriends Jess and invites her to try out for the local women's football team, the Hounslow Harriers coached by Joe (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Jess is extremely happy and excited about the try-outs even though Joe is skeptical about a new player joining the team. After seeing Jess' skills, Joe accepts her on the team. Jess lies to Joe about her parents being cool with the idea.
Jess develops an attraction towards Joe and when the team take a trip to Hamburg and go out clubbing, they're caught about to kiss by Jules; who also had a crush on Joe. This sours Jess and Jules' friendship as Jules was adamant, she'd told Jess about her crush. When Jess arrives at Jules' house to patch up their friendship, Mrs. Paxton (Juliet Stevenson) is misled and thinks they're hiding a lesbian relationship.
Jess' parents, (Anupam Kher) and (Shaheen Khan), find out that Jess has been playing football behind their backs, they become stricter and prevent Jess from playing any more matches. The elder Bhamras are distracted by the elaborate wedding plans for Jess' older sister, Pinky (Archie Panjabi).
Thanks to Jess and Jules' skills, the Harriers reach the finals of the league tournament. Unfortunately, the final and the wedding are on the same day. Joe pleads with Mr. Bhamra to allow Jess to play but he refuses. Mr. Bharma reveals that he doesn't want Jess to suffer the same way he did when he was kicked out of the cricket club because of his race. Joe pleads with Mr Bhamra to let Jess play, but he is firm & Joe is forced to start the finals without her. A talent scout is also at the game who will choose players for the US professional women's soccer league. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Halfway through Pinky's wedding, Tony convinces Mr. Bhamra to let Jess go. He agrees and Tony drives Jess to the game where the Harriers are losing 1-0 with half an hour left. Jess and Jules tie the score, and when Jess is awarded a free kick, she must bend the ball around the wall of players to score. Jess succeeds and the Harriers win the tournament. Jess and Jules are offered scholarships at Santa Clara University in California. Jules tells her parents immediately whereas Jess has trouble telling hers. Jules and Mrs. Paxton arrive at the wedding for Jules to celebrate with Jess. Mrs. Paxton accuses Jess of being a hypocrite and a lesbian. Jules grabs her mother and runs off in shame.
Jess still hasn't told her parents about the scholarship. Tony decides to lie to the family and tells them he's engaged to Jess as long as she gets to go to any college she wants. Jess reveals the lie and Mrs. Bhamra accuses her husband of allowing her to play and refuses. Mr. Bhamra convinces Mrs. Bhamra after telling her he doesn't want Jess suffering like he did.
Jess flees to the football field to tell Joe of her parent's decision. The two almost kiss, but Jess pulls away, saying her parents would object, and that although they had come far enough to let her go to America to play, she doesn't think they would be able to handle another cultural backlash from her.
On the day of Jess' and Jules' flight, Mrs. Paxton gives her daughter a football jersey, and wishes her good luck. The two are about to board the plane when Joe arrives and confesses his love for Jess. The two kiss and Jess agrees to sort out a relationship (and her parents) when she returns for Christmas.
Jess and Jules send their parents a team photograph, and it is revealed that Pinky is pregnant. Mr. Bhamra practices cricket with Joe's help.
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What is the Brazilian Portuguese language plot outline for Bend It Like Beckham (2002)?
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