FILM: Bending All the Rules

We are all familiar with the somewhat overdone sports-triumph movie, a genre steeped in the American tradition of competition and in our innate desire to root for the underdog. On the surface, it would appear that Bend It Like Beckham is just the latest version of a predictable story, but this British incarnation treats familiar material in a fresh and surprisingly enjoyable way, and just may be the perfect film for our troubled times.

Jess Bhamra (Parminder Nagra) is the daughter of Punjabi immigrants living in a London suburb. Much to her parents' chagrin, Jess loves playing soccer and idolizes David Beckham, the famed Manchester United player whose ability to curve the ball past any obstacle lends the movie its title. Her older sister, Pinky, has conformed to their parents' ideas of a proper Indian girl - a quiet, devoted wife to a successful man. Along with increased pressure at home comes the invitation to play for a local girl's team. Jess then must overcome physical and emotional barriers in a struggle to find her place among friends and family.

The plot may seem mundane, but Beckham gets interesting between the lines. As Jess' situation becomes more complicated, issues of sexual and cultural identity emerge. The director, Gurinder Chadha, manages to deal with these important problems with a delicate hand, never allowing the atmosphere to stray too far away from giddy euphoria.

But the young Nagra's performance is what really drives this movie - her engaging presence guides us through the few contrivances and problematic moments with confidence. Rarely does one leave the theater floating on air, but Bend It Like Beckham is sure to have this effect on many people. In the end, the film's themes of compromise and cultural understanding struck me as particularly apt for a world whose many conflicts can be blamed at least in part on cultural ignorance - we'd all be wise to learn from Jess and her fellow British blokes.

• Jacob Usner