Themes

Identity

One of the most important themes in the film Bend It Like Beckham (2002) directed by Gurinder Chadha is identity. The main characters of the film, Jess and Jules, are teenagers who struggle to find their identity in a world that pressures them to conform to expectations which are not theirs. 

Both Mrs. Bhamra and Mrs. Paxton pressure their daughters to conform to their own ideals of behavior and appearance. In the Bhamra family, Jess should wear clothes which cover her entirely, and she should know how to cook traditional Indian food. In the Paxton family, Jules should dress in clothes which display her body and try to get the attention of boys. 

In the beginning, Mrs. Bhamra and Mrs. Paxton do not approve of the...