In the film “ Bend it Like Beckman”, directed by Grinder Chad, traditional values has a great impact on family values, at times restricting growth and the desire to follow your dreams. Jess and Jules realize that to achieve individuality, their goals and aspirations need to be considered not only by themselves but by their families. Generations learn from each other that times are changing and for them to grow as individuals they need to realism that the girls are able to make their own lives and choices. The amount of integrity that someone holds is largely linked to the values that the Emily enforce.
It is natural for children to want to grow as an individual and create a unique identity. Jules has already chosen her path, she is determined to make an impact on the female soccer league, her dreams of chasing boys and going shopping are far from her mind, but her mother disapproves, as does Jesses mother. Jules doesn’t let her family values impose on her dream to play soccer, she doesn’t seem to take into consideration what her mother wants for her, as she already has chosen to block that out of her life and concentrate on what she wants.
This tests her relationship with her mother, until her mother realizes that her daughters strong will, will not suffer, in turn she begins to learn the basics of soccer and her daughters chosen path. Jesses family values stand strong with her and in ways this is shown positively, in the fact that Jess didn’t want to lie to her parent’s. She couldn’t hide this part of her life without a guilty conscious and releasing the impact it was having on her family, she was gradually loosing trust from her family, so decided to quit soccer for her sister’s wedding.
As time progresses Jesses father realizes that he can’t stop Jess from achieving her dream, as her respect for her family values and culture begins to be tested, he begins to support her aspirations and realizes that their culture is accepted into sports now, not like when he was young as he had endure racial taunting. For adults to continually impose their beliefs on children, can cause them to grow away further as they need to realism their own aspirations and identity. There is constant conflict brewing in both households, both girls continually work reader every day to achieve what they know is right for themselves.
Their family values collide in the fact that the mothers still hold on to belief that females should stay elegant and poise, not be chasing after soccer balls. Jesses traditional culture impose that females have less personal choice and fulfillment, having their lives planned out for them. As appose to Jules, Jess must take into consideration her whole family, as their families are very much linked to the importance that the beliefs and values must be passed on from generation to generation. These traditions include taming feminine and perhaps most important finding a suitable Indian husband for the future.
These traditional values are not important to Jess, as they don’t fit with what she and her other peers feel is important, Jesses generation is a long way from the last generation in terms of values and the culture. Jesses mother holds on to her beliefs strongly but overall she does not know what is best for her personally. She has yet to realism, unlike her husband, the talent she possesses and the will power to go far, this causes conflict between mother and daughter, and respect is lost by both ides until Jess and Jules are given a real shot at playing soccer professionally.
Although Jesses mother does not completely understand the raw talent her daughter possesses, as seen at the airport, Jess takes it upon herself to go, as she was the only person that knew what was best for her. Accepting and lending guidance to someone’s aspirations often lead to a time of growth and achievement. Jess and Jules maintained hope in what they were fighting for throughout constant family conflicts, this was down to a mentor and support from not Just family members, but from people that could observe with different sets of values. Joy as their coach was willing to put in his time, effort and patience into these girls.
He realized their talents and abilities to make it as successful, inspirational female soccer players. In Jesses case he was willing to fight for her, regardless of her family, he had the ability to see what she wanted beneath. For Joy he looked at Jesses parent’s in a strict Indian community, to allow her daughter to partake in masculine sports, it put their image as a family and as parent’s at stake. He confronted her parent’s, trying to lure them away from their old tradition to see that times had changed and to let their daughter’s skill go unnoticed would be injustice.
Joy could relate to Jess with his father not approving of his career path, but in the end he knew what was best for him, so he believed Jess had the power to choose her path. Julep’s had the added support of her father, who was much more understanding and flexible with his daughters passion for the sport and supported her through it all, making Julep’s mother see that it was meant for her gather to pursue soccer, and if she did not accept this, her relationship with her husband and daughter began to strain.
To aspire to something you not only need your belief but the understanding and support from your closest family. Had Jess not been able to confront her family and stand up for what she wanted her integrity would have suffered, knowing not only did her family disapprove of her path, they would lose trust within her. Jess and Jules remaining constantly involved with the family and holding high aspirations lead to success and acceptance from their families.