Bend It Like Beckham is a Win for the Girls and the Gays | Guilty Pleasures Ep. 135

[@PokhrajRoy.]

“Lesbian? But I thought she’s a Pisces.” is such an underrated line 😂

[@AxelExplores]

Zach, I’m normally down with your takes, but DO NOT come for late 90s/early 2000s club wear. Kiera Knightley’s top is ICONIQUE

[@rivoniaTenTen]

Speaking as a brown, non traditionally feminine, queer, woman who is an engineer... All of Jasminder's issues were important for me to see as a teen and wasn't too much conflict. It's kinda exactly what it's like to be in a conservative community in the 90s. Even now... It's still taboo to bring up some of those issues.

[@naxp42]

Yesssss

[@PokhrajRoy.]

As much as I’m happy to see the dynamic duo of Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra, it’s sad that the industry underutilised the latter. Both of them were phenomenal imho. P.S. Kelsey gives major Jules Energy.

[@IshtarNike]

Under utilised is putting it nicely. Flat out ignored is more like it. Knightly was the best friend character. It's not a coincidence that the break out stars from that film were only the two white people (Knightly and the male lead). Parminder deserved it just as much as them but got nowhere near as much support.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

@@IshtarNike I couldn’t have put it better.

[@casualcascade]

i once made my best friend watch this promising it was sapphic, because I hadn't seen it in 10 years and my queer little brain only remembered it as being so deeply homoerotic between the two girls that I genuinely believed they kissed at some point. Had to apologize to her when the credits rolled

[@beautifulhyhy1330]

I fully thought the same thing Garrick thought when Zach told the “soccer for dummies” story.

[@sdkni386]

The 'bend it like Beckham ' move was actually symbolically how jess was able to 'bend' the situation and reach her 'goal' of getting into professional football by working around the 'goalkeeper' aka her family .

[@ssuuzziiee]

I have been waiting for someone to appreciate this movie as much as I did growing up. MY GAY AWAKENING AHHHHHH

[@Christina-Claire]

This film resonated all around the world. Football is universal. Also, the Indian, British, and Indo-British actors were utterly hilarious. There are some top tier actors in this small indie pic. I mean her sister is played by Archie Panjabi! Amazing cast.

[@PrettyGuardian]

This movie holds up really well. If you liked it in the past, definitely worth revisiting.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

It’s nice to see a Gurinder Chadha double feature with ‘Angus’ and now this. Thank goodness someone is talking about the movie! 👏🏽 P.S. I was one of the many people who suggested or atleast manifested this topic and one of the few sports films which was fun, calling out overbearing parents and most importantly, queer subtext.

[@naxp42]

I'M A QUEER AFAB ENBY BISEXUAL FROM INDIA WHO GREW UP PLAYING AND WATCHING FOOTBALL AND THIS MOVIE IS EVERYTHING TO MEEEEEEEE.

[@tayloroo]

All 3 of y'all talking with the synchronized leg shakes is so cute

[@howmanybeansmakefive]

18:00 it’s definitely a British-Asian movie, not an ‘Indian movie in the uk’ (also Asians generally refer to south Asians in the UK). The migration of south Asians in the uk is very diff to the us, and because us immigration was more by upper class folk initially, it’s not uncommon that uk Asians immigrant families were more conservative. Regarding the racism too, south Asians were the big initial migrants after the end of empire, so that racism story/representation has specific roots to it. I’m Brit-Asian and loved it, it was very representative of Brit-Asian experience at the time.

[@xosgilr18]

There’s a big difference between Jonathan Rhys Meyers (who played Joe) and Jon Rhys Davies (who Zack said is who played Joe). JRM was in The Tudors and JRD was in Lord of the Rings….oops. Had me do a double take just to make sure but quite a fun way to laugh today 😂

[@naxp42]

I disagree that Jess and Joe didn't have chemistry, I think Jess has chemistry with both Joe and Jules BECAUSE SHE IS BI CODED.

[@tiffytaffy334]

The first 6 minutes of this is incredible content.

[@bucket2143]

PLEASE DO STICK IT FOR THE LESBIANS

[@ivylasangrienta6093]

Every time Kelsey says "soccer" I flinched. It sounds so wrong. Also 30:45, Jonathan Rhys Meyers is Irish, not British...AND, it was the Brits who started wearing white wedding dresses to emulate Queen Victoria.

[@ssuuzziiee]

Can you please do an episode on Riding in Cars with Boys? A very underrated Drew Barrymore win that needs to be talked about

[@familiarscarx]

That was the first movie that made me feel seen as a child of an addict

[@dianepettigrew9211]

I love that movie so much!!

[@kilian-one-l]

I'm not sure what they were doing with the shots in this movie, but it always seem like they were doing THE MOST to make Jonathan Rhys Meyers look as pretty as physically possible. Like, the man's already gorgeous, but something about the shots and lighting were definitely giving him a boost

[@samhayet4286]

Good point! JRM never again looked as good as he did in 'Beckham'!

[@alexare6655]

Hes not hot.

[@kilian-one-l]

@@alexare6655 that's your opinion, definitely doesn't match with the majority. I have people I see that way, that most people find attractive but I don't

[@alexare6655]

@@kilian-one-l of course its my opinion. Its still right though.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

4:47 Garrick really did say that.

[@beckmannm]

His eyes getting SO BIG as Zach was telling the story

[@oliviamuomua2764]

Bend It Like Beckham is SO GOOD. It’s my feel good movie and I watched it for my birthday. Still holds up

[@crisencrypted_ytv]

only 5mins in and already screaming laughing - love this podcast

[@naxp42]

I'm glad they didn't name it "Move it like Mia", I grew up in India and very much had no idea who Mia Hamm was.

[@themermaidmak]

13:30 - Growing up that headband was the bane of my existence. I have curly hair (like 3a/3b) & it would regularly get knotted up in the spikes at the back of my head.. More than once it had to get cut out. 🤦‍♀😫

[@beckmannm]

Immediately looking up if a soccer player you love is gay: the bisexual soccer player's experience 🤝

[@milkflavored]

One of my favorite movies ever! I love the club scene where Mel C plays and the queer dynamics are every where 😂 also GET YOUR LESBIAN FEET OUT OF MY SHOES

[@FlagCutie]

YAS!!! I finally watched this with my friend a few months ago. We were cackling about how all of us brown children were basically raised the same but in different fonts if that makes sense. 😂

[@aimeeballinger1399]

I wish they would announce what movie they are doing next time. That way I could watch the movie before the podcast & understand their references.

[@colleenb8058]

LOVED this discussion but as soon as they brought up "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", I wish they had talked about that movie more 😂

[@PokhrajRoy.]

12:19 Both the leads had concussions while practicing for football. They were going for it.

[@rosepose92]

Ugh late to this but totally with Kelsey - you absolutely should check with your VIPs before booking a wedding date! Not *everyone* obviously, but if you want your family and wedding party to be there, you better make sure they can be...

[@tibsonline]

YESSSSSSS this is my favorite movie ever, so stoked you're watching it on the pod

[@PokhrajRoy.]

8:38 Lmao have you met male Indian cricketers? They’re loaded.

[@Christina-Claire]

One of the best films of my youth ! It was impeccable ! ❤

[@emilyhunt2210]

Loved watching Garrick waiting patiently for Kelsey to release the soccer ball so he could quickly also fidget with it! 😂❤

[@emilyhunt2210]

Still watching… Kelsey stole it back!

[@victorialopez8459]

OMGGG FUCK YEAH FUCKK YEAAAHHHHHH THIS IS MY SHIT I FUCKING LOVE THIS MOVIE 😭😫😫💜💜😭😭😭😫😫💜💜💜

[@missmollybruton]

Do not come for beans on toast😑

[@7309alicia]

I had the same thought as Garrett 😭😭😭😭 4:58

[@viviennewolf9181]

The title also can be interpreted as Jess defying the odds of whats expected of her as a young woman and an indian young woman as well...as Beckham making the ball curve which was unheard of back then. People have ideas of who we should be based on how we look or where you come from but we can love and aspire to be whatever. Don't let someone else's views limit your life. Like Raj on big bang he's an Indian kid who loves DnD and going to comic con alot of people would say that was an unlikely character because unless you are a typical American kid you wouldn't like these things. It's also going into that cultural gray area of are you indian enough or are you black enough. I loved this movie as a kid although I'm from Guyana and I'm mixed with Indian and Caucasian; I related to not being as traditional as my indian family because I lived with my Caucasian mom and coming from the Caribbean the indian culture here is very different from India because most of us dont speak the languages or have that specific family dynamic. I loved both of my cultures but you loving the things you love doesn't make you less of who you were born as. You don't have to prove you are Asian or black enough because you are by birth.

[@riannerobeson1907]

I would like to note that I also thought Zach’s story about a plane going overhead during soccer was heading toward a 9/11 conclusion 😂

[@evyn8296]

They should remake it and make it actively gay

[@yes.chefkitty]

This came out at the perfect time, because I just watched "Next Goal Wins". It's another great indie soccer movie that showcases a very unique culture (American Samoa), and its relationship with queerness, religion, and soccer! Great feel good watch, totally recommend it !!

[@forest_nymph24]

Love that Zach has a pizzamas water bottle

[@megdv]

Any “Mary and Max” fans out there? It’s an Australian independent (claymation) film. Would love to hear them talk about this movie!

[@Arico]

in the game vs wedding debate, i think a lot of people who did sports when they were in school were told the games were more important than anything else. i did marching band/indoor percussion ensemble and was told this, one of my directors missed his mom's wedding for a competition lol. so i understand the dilemma while the wedding may seem like an obvious choice to others!

[@samhayet4286]

Right?! A competition is something you prepare and hone your skills and talents for and something that can impact your future, esp. if you're very young! To be upstaged by a wedding, of all things, the wedding would have to feature something REALLY SPECTACULAR that you would never, ever see to be worth choosing!

[@RadMad789]

Kelsey spouting so many wrong answers to nothing burger trivia. The British (Queen Victoria) originated the white dress. Also, there absolutely were mega soccer stars, even in the US, before Beckham. Heard of Pele?

[@metteandersen7326]

Suggestions for international film: If you are down to watch Danish films you should watch "De grønne slagtere" (The Green Butchers) or "Blinkende Lygter" (Flickering Lights). Old school Mads Mikkelsen films.

[@duggs4456]

The US women's team WAS far superior, Lionesses are killing it babbyyyyyyy. And yeah Indian people of any gender playing football is far rarer than basically any other race in the UK. Football is just not something they tend to bother with, they're far bigger cricket fans. There have been 3 people who qualify to play for the India national team to ever to play in the Premier League, out of thousands and thousands of players, they were all born in Europe, one was half Indian, one wasn't Indian ethnically but was born there, and one had one Indian grandparent or something. Every Indian person I knew growing up played cricket and not football. And it was often a thing of "I can't play football, my dad would be mad". It's just a cultural thing I guess?

[@CanWeNotKnockIt]

I would also add that the USA dominated when hardly any other countries took women's football seriously. Now that's changed women's international football is more competitive

[@sadhanamoodley99]

In the end of the movie, it WAS David Beckham! He was paid for those 3 seconds more than all of the main actors!

[@groencactus]

Ohhh Garrick, this year the Spanish women's team won the world cup. US got kicked out by Sweden from the series, so they don't always go to the final. But they are kick ass all the same ;)

[@jesspink92]

The white wedding dress was made popular by Queen Victoria as she wore a white wedding dress

[@sammyal21]

Bend It Like Beckham was one of the first dvds we owned. I was 10 and watched it with my mom. Didn't really understand any of the movie context and REALLY didn't understand that we didn't have to rewind the DVD; because we did try to rewind the DVD. I mean, technically we did rewind it. Went back to the beginning. Anyway, great movie.

[@lindseysteward7736]

Since you love Bend it Like Beckham, I recommend you watch Bride and Prejudice, which is also directed by Gurinder Chadha. It is Pride & Prejudice plus Bollywood with settings in India, England, and Los Angeles.

[@rahulvinalnarayan9743]

“Get your lesbian feet off my shoes!” Hahahha iconic

[@naxp42]

Not Kelsey revealing she doesn't like watching football 🤣

[@gkp12345]

You guys should make a video about the Daisy jones and the six show

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Fun Fact: ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ was approved by North Korea as a film suitable for distribution.

[@amandakesterson224]

... how?

[@XquinlanX]

Kelsey and I had very similar soccer experiences 😂 Watching soccer usually just makes me want to pass a ball around

[@Rocketpt2]

This episode is giving zach and Kelsey are actually in a fight

[@camillaabreu1967]

Looove this movie! Nice to see yiu guys reaction to it. And hoping that Howl's moving castle comes soon.

[@JerseyQuinn]

Y'all gotta watch the opening scene from the paw patrol movie 2 the streets. It's giving fast and furious

[@bugwaterbuffy]

im australian which feels british adjacent, i had baked beans and potatoes' for dinner as im watching this the slander hurts

[@PokhrajRoy.]

7:36 OMG THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THIS! It’s the reason I ran away from sports.

[@Moacat96]

Love this weeks guilty pleasure!!!

[@naxp42]

Yes you can't upstage a Desi bride but also unless you're from Kerala, wearing white to a Desi wedding is not a thing because white is usually funeral attire!!

[@jmason1770]

Haven't seen this movie in years. Every since I started watching Welcome to Wrexham (season 1 & 2), I've made a conscious effort to say football instead of soccer.

[@katecoleman1799]

You guys should go to an Angel City game! LA's women's pro soccer team. they're super fun

[@PokhrajRoy.]

39:46 Then you should’ve requested a Jain counter lol

[@Meganb1286]

I have somehow never seen this movie! I had no idea it was so loved

[@nancySIX]

The US women’s national team only dominated so much in the past due to the relatively higher funding. Now that every other women’s national team is getting the backing they can’t even make it out of a round of 16. They barely made it out of the group.

[@IshtarNike]

They show her trying to learn but narratively they don't focus on it much at all. As he says, its not really set up as a challenge in the way other films would have done it. I think he's right overall. Its not like we saw her visibly failing and failing hard to bend the ball. It happens a bit, but still not enough to make it the focus of the film.

[@mollylevine7872]

I've been waiting for this one 😭

[@ActuallyAnanya]

Hey guys, desi is pronounced more Day-see than dezzie (not exactly, it's more a soft d/th sound that's hard to explain, but we'll accept Day-see as close enough)

[@erinsbooks]

Why is Kelsey spinning the ball so hot? lol

[@KisasDestiny]

i need y’all to watch the series the drop out and talk about it

[@jacko666]

Speaking of Jules, yall should see Jules! It’s adorable!

[@eyeseajujubee]

I’m so happy this movie is getting an episode! This movie was part of my bi awakening 🌈 Kelsey saying Jules is the ultimate bi name made my day, since that’s my nickname.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

28:38 Idk why she says ‘marriage’. It’s having relationships. It’s legal to be queer in India but marriage equality has a long way to go.

[@samhayet4286]

Not relationships even, just the act of sex between same sex people became decriminalized. You could probably 'be' gay or be in a 'relationship' as long as you didn't physically consummate, lol.

[@naxp42]

Sorry Garrick, I'm Indian and I love beans on toast.

[@sambailey6373]

You guys should do an episode on Leo 👀👀 I’d love to know your thoughts.

[@nayrainbowsparkle]

I'm British and the 'alright' things used to confuse me! I think it's more prevalent in different parts. My step cousins used to say it to me and eventually I realised it was just a way of saying hello 😂 people don't always necessarily expect an answer to that one 😂🩷

[@kaiyarain9673]

this was truly my gay awakening

[@JackieWarner13]

Such a good film!

[@Lily-um9tj]

PLEASE DO “THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD” its a Norwegian indie!!

[@neivilde.1242]

we watched this movie in one of my film class about diaspora, and i thought i was the only one that would be arguing the "this is gay" point, but to my surprise, that was everyone's opinion. when joe and jess kissed, ever single person in my class groaned, like fully disgusted, screaming at the screen in disapproval, it was beautiful. and in the discussion after, everyone was saying how much they disliked him to the point where the teacher had to be like okay we get it, let's bring other points up lmao. oh and there was this film bro type dude, who didn't like it, he was like i don't get how this is special like I've seen so many movies like this, and everyone was like dude you don't get the impact it had at the time. even the teacher was like it might not seem important to you but ask the women here and they'll tell you how much it mattered to them

[@samhayet4286]

Hilarious! How long ago was this?! I wonder if it was something more general audiences (not counting the passionate fans who made this an LGBTQ cult classic).accepted with time or whether they felt that way from the beginning.

[@neivilde.1242]

@@samhayet4286 oh it was like last month lmao

[@DipayanChowdhury]

THIS GIRL IS OBNOXIOUS. WHAT IS WRONG WITH HER?

[@kyris66]

Do Hot Fuzz now, please. Thank you.

[@maritzai0322]

OMG YES!!

[@Moacat96]

I’m with Kelsey on this. It’s not a clean cut decision between your future career and a wedding.

[@huckleberrypie279]

Can you guys please review more actual queer movie/tv its all i watch so im just waiting for the gay shit

[@alexare6655]

Keira knihhtlry snf natalie portnan look nothing alike.

[@aunjaliepatel4174]

Maggie is correct, there is no outshining a Desi bride ✨🫶🏽 (also the S in desi is a soft S) (: