1. Describe the representations found on the DVD/film poster
The two characters are shown in a medium shot, where they are placed very close to each other. This represents their close spatial relationship and shows that they are the two main characters of the film. These are two young females, who tend to be very emotional. In this image they seem very happy emphasized by their cheerful smiles. One female seems Asian, the other English giving a hint to the story of the film and the connection between the two cultures.
The quote ‘Who wants to cook Aloo Gobi when you can bend a ball like Beckham’ creates this cultural feel to the poster with circumstances they will have to deal with (Aloo Gobi is an Indian dish). The mise-en-scene suggests that they are sporty emphasized through the use of tracksuit bottoms, and sports tops. The lighting is bright, where everything is clear and visible, giving an overall vibrant, pleasant feel.
2. How does the film reflect changing attitudes to gender and ethnic identity in contemporary Britain?
The film reflects changing attitudes to gender in contemporary Britain mainly by having a female football team as one of the focal points of the story. Football is a well-established sport in England, but is mainly played by the males. To show that females are enjoying this sport and having benefits from this, suggests a change in attitude.
The Parents of Jess always tell her that football is just a sport and not a career path; however Jess sees this as her future, instead of further education, which is not stereotypical at all to females in Britain. Her passion for football is too strong for her father to not let her do this, showing a change in attitude to ethnic identity, as normally a stereotypical Indian father would want her to further study or find a man to marry and be a housewife. This again hints the viewers to a change of attitude in ethnic identity as the father says many times during the film how he was rejected when playing cricket. In comparison to now, where Jess could have this opportunity to have a scholarship in America, the father identified this change and wanted his daughter to do, what he could not. There is this sense that Asians are now accepted to participate at a high level in sport.
3. What are the problems Jess faces as a British Asian 18-year-old girl?
Her sister didn’t like the idea that Jess was falling in love with the coach of the football team who was white. She said “Do you want to be the one that everyone stares at, because you married the white guy?!” At this day and age, the fact that she said that, tells the viewers that people will still judge you, if you marry someone from a different ethnicity. Jess really likes the coach, but decided to ask out a close Indian male friend if he can be her boyfriend, as she felt that she was pressured from her family to date someone from the same ethnic group.
We got a sense that her family were very much excluded from the British people. But Jess was slightly different as she had white visitors coming to see her such as her football mate and the coach. When the coach entered into the house, he seemed the odd one out and it seemed a bit awkward for him to be there. The parents were beginning to get annoyed about these English visitors coming to talk about Jess.
Jess had many problems which British people would take for granted, such as buying football boots, or even being allowed to play football. Her family didn’t see the point of her playing this sport which she clearly loved. The main reason perhaps because she was a girl. She had to pretend she was going to work, when actually it was an excuse for her to get out of the house to play football. Her mum didn’t like the fact that she would wear small shorts with a male coach around; this is because in their religion the females should cover up their legs.
Her main problem was when the final of her football match was during the same time as her sister’s wedding. She had no decision for which event she wanted take part in.
Jess had a problem because not only trying to migrate into a normal British life; she was also trying to pursue her football career, which her family had never come across before.
