The Hegemo
07 Apr 2003, 11:35 AM
I went to see this on Friday night, and I am recommending it to pretty much everyone I can. I think I enjoyed this movie more than any I've seen in the past couple years.
It's an English movie (actually came out over there last year) which tells the story of Jess, a teenage girl in suburban London who is completely obsessed with soccer. Her fairly traditional Sikh family disapproves of this obsession, and wants her to focus on becoming a 'proper lady' and going to university. Jess is spotted playing soccer in the park and asked to try out for a local women's soccer team. She makes the team, but is afraid to tell her parents, and has to keep sneaking out and coming up with excuses. The story goes from there, as we see Jess trying to balance the demands of her family with her own dreams.
The ending is a little too pat, to be sure, and a lot in the film is predictable. It's not high art by any stretch of the imagination. It is, however, very sweet and very funny. The performances are strong, and it's a well-made film. And I think even the soccer-phobic would enjoy the movie.
(Unfortunately, it is only at the Esquire in Cincinnati, so if you're boycotting, you'll have to wait until it's out on video.)
It's an English movie (actually came out over there last year) which tells the story of Jess, a teenage girl in suburban London who is completely obsessed with soccer. Her fairly traditional Sikh family disapproves of this obsession, and wants her to focus on becoming a 'proper lady' and going to university. Jess is spotted playing soccer in the park and asked to try out for a local women's soccer team. She makes the team, but is afraid to tell her parents, and has to keep sneaking out and coming up with excuses. The story goes from there, as we see Jess trying to balance the demands of her family with her own dreams.
The ending is a little too pat, to be sure, and a lot in the film is predictable. It's not high art by any stretch of the imagination. It is, however, very sweet and very funny. The performances are strong, and it's a well-made film. And I think even the soccer-phobic would enjoy the movie.
(Unfortunately, it is only at the Esquire in Cincinnati, so if you're boycotting, you'll have to wait until it's out on video.)