Bend It Like Beckham

Gurinder Chadha’s film follows a real footballer. Permi Jhooti played for Chelsea and Millwall before Fulham, turned professional when that club did in 2000, while working on a doctorate in coronary artery imaging at Imperial College. The father’s refusal comes from his own history rather than custom: he was kept out of a cricket club after arriving in England and will not see his daughter meet that door. Shooting started on 18 June 2001 and ran 9 weeks in London and at Shepperton Studios, with the semi final staged over 3 days in Hamburg. Fox Searchlight weighed the title Move It Like Mia for America and kept the name; Germany got it as Kick It Like Beckham. On 26 December 2010 North Korean state television aired it, arranged through the British embassy, in a print cut to 104 minutes. It was nominated for Outstanding British Film at the 56th BAFTAs and for musical or comedy at the 61st Golden Globes, losing both. A good fit if you want the progress on the pitch and the wedding preparations carried at equal weight, and want to see whose objection it is and what injury produced it. Not for anyone expecting the ending on the pitch; the last stretch moves to a wedding, a family table and a scholarship decision.