Latest news with #BendItLikeBeckham
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Cannes Lions 2025: The unskippable power of cinema
Filmmaker Gurinder Chadha , OBE, offered a compelling look into cinema's profound ability to spark cultural change and influence societal perspectives. With three decades in the industry, Chadha, known for crafting globally resonant narratives, emphasised the critical role of representation and strategic storytelling . Chadha candidly shared her journey into filmmaking, a path she "sort of fell into" after starting in journalism. Her core motivation, she revealed, was clear: "For me, cinema allows you to change the world. That's the purpose for me." Growing up in Britain, she yearned to see people who looked like her and her family "on the screen center stage, as opposed to on the margins." This deeply personal ambition has clearly translated into impactful work. She highlighted her globally acclaimed film, " Bend It Like Beckham ," which remarkably was distributed in "every single country in the world, including North Korea." Chadha believes the film's release shortly after 9/11 played a crucial role in its resonance. "This very sweet... movie came out and invited you to come into the home of a Sikh family in London and experience the idea of dreams and hopes and desires from their perspective," she recounted. Despite initial industry skepticism about its commercial viability, the film became a "global phenomena." Chadha asserted her mission: "I still hold on to the fact that my job is here to reach out to your heart... help you feel heard. Alive, and then make you rethink what's around you, your surroundings, and then put you back together with a feel good ending." The film's influence extended far beyond the box office, significantly impacting women's football. Chadha proudly stated, "I know the England European champions and the American World Champion, they've all gone on record to say they only got into playing football after watching my film." This unexpected legacy demonstrates cinema's power to inspire real-world change. She acknowledged the initial resistance she faced, with many questioning the appeal of "girls playing football," but underscored her intent to make a film about "female empowerment" during a time of changing cultural dynamics in Britain. Chadha's unique approach, honed by her journalistic background, involves a deliberate focus on the audience's perspective. "I always start with the perspective of the audience... What is the audience thinking? How am I going to shift their opinions?" She revealed a key technique: subversion. "I know what you're expecting, and then I change it, and I shift it." She explained how "Bend It Like Beckham," at its core, addresses racism and generational differences, but through unexpected narrative choices. Instead of the typical immigrant story of rebellion, her film shows the daughter taking her parents on her journey, ultimately leading to the father's moving acceptance. "That's terribly moving, because it's subverting your expectations of what you think the immigrant experiences," she noted. Chadha emphasised the growing challenge for creatives in a world where audiences are increasingly savvy about visual language and storytelling. "Our job as creatives is even harder, I think, to surprise the audience," she stated. She extended this philosophy beyond cinema to commercials and social media, stressing the need for "a twist in there to stop people's [skipping] and go, Oh, I love this." The goal, she believes, is to create content that makes people "feel good" and experience a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) if they don't engage. In a collective viewing experience, cinema fosters a unique connection. "Seeing a film in a collective space, in a cinema is again that reminder of the universality of emotions and who we are," Chadha concluded, championing the enduring power of the big screen to unite and move audiences.
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
How playing Elizabeth Bennet changed Keira
As Pride & Prejudice marks its 20th anniversary this year, Keira Knightley is revisiting the film that she says redefined how she was viewed in Hollywood. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, the British actor opened up about her career trajectory before and after the 2005 Jane Austen adaptation, which earned her an Academy Award nomination at just 20 years old. Knightley, who had already achieved global recognition for her roles in Pirates of the Caribbean and Bend It Like Beckham, said she felt dismissed by critics early in her career despite commercial success. "Pirates of the Caribbean had already come out, but I think in the public consciousness, I was seen as a terrible actress," Knightley admitted. "But I had this phenomenally big success with Pirates. And I think Pride & Prejudice was the first one that was a phenomenally big success, but was also critically acclaimed." Knightley said the response to Pride & Prejudice stood in stark contrast to the reception of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, which was released around the same time. "I got the worst reviews ever for that, and then also being nominated for an Oscar at the same time — it was, in my 21-year-old head, quite confusing." Reflecting on her earlier breakout role in Bend It Like Beckham, which was released when she was just 17, Knightley revealed that the reviews she remembers most were the negative ones. "All those voices of self-doubt are so loud when you are in your teens or 20s," she said. "But in an adult brain that's got a lot of experience, you can kind of go, 'You know what? It's okay. Today may not be my day, but tomorrow it might be better.'" The actor has previously described 2005 as a year of extremes. Speaking to The Times, she called it a "making and breaking" moment in her career. "They were the most successful films I'll ever be a part of and they were the reason that I was taken down publicly," she said. "So they're a very confused place in my head." Knightley's candid reflections arrive as Pride & Prejudice enjoys renewed attention two decades on, with fans and critics alike continuing to celebrate its portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet - a role that, for Knightley, was as redemptive as it was career-defining.
New Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Keira Knightley reflects on conflicting early fame: Oscar nomination at 20, harsh reviews and a lot more
Knightley was just 20 when she earned her first Academy Award nomination for Pride & Prejudice, making her the third-youngest best actress nominee at the time. Though already a household name thanks to Pirates, Bend It Like Beckham, and Love Actually, she recalled that much of the early critical response to her performances stung. 'I got terrible reviews for it — or at least the ones I remember, or the ones that, in your 17-year-old brain, actually sink in,' she said of Bend It Like Beckham. 'Of course, it's only the ones that are negative. So I think [Pride & Prejudice] was the first time that it had been unequivocally positive, right?' In a separate conversation with The Times of London last year, Knightley opened up further about the complicated legacy of the Pirates franchise for her career and public image. 'I was seen as shit because of them,' she said candidly. 'And yet because they did so well, I was given the opportunity to do the films that I ended up getting Oscar nominations for. They were the most successful films I'll ever be a part of, and they were the reason that I was taken down publicly. So they're a very confused place in my head.' Despite the mixed reception, Knightley went on to reprise her role in two more Pirates films after Pride & Prejudice and continued to carve a space for herself as one of Britain's most enduring and versatile actors.
Daily Record
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
BBC's latest TV series release is a 'must watch' for Jane Austen lovers
This three-part series celebrates the life and legacy of Jane Austen and is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer A brand new BBC drama is captivating Jane Austen fans with a fresh take on the beloved author's life, legacy and enduring influence. With its rich storytelling and fresh approach to the author's life, Jane Austen: Rise of Genius promises to engage both life-long fans and newcomers alike. The docu-series is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer, as the three-part series shows Austen as not only a literary icon but as a trailblazing woman who reshaped the literacy world. The release of the series comes in time to celebrate the author's 250th birthday, and it's not one to miss. The drama explores both Austen's literacy success and her personal journey, offering a rich portrayal of one of Britain's most celebrated writers. It follows how Austen created some of literature's most enduring characters while navigating family obligations, social expectations and personal heartbreak. The show is narrated by actress Juliet Stevenson - known for her roles in Emma and Bend It Like Beckham - and it weaves together dramatised scenes with Juliet's narration as well as Austen's own words from her novels and letters. Much of the narration is taken from her surviving letters to her sister Cassandra, offering fans a rare and intimate insight into her thoughts and experiences in the 18th and 19th centuries. Although many of the original letters were destroyed after Austen passed away to preserve her privacy, those that remain provide a powerful foundation for the story in the show. Jane Austen: Rise of Genius also features commentary from well-known authors and cultural figures, including Bridget Jones's Diary author Helen Fielding, Queenie creator Candice Carty-Williams, and Life After Life author Kate Atkinson. The cast includes a strong line up of British talent - Charity Wakefield, known for her role in Sense and Sensibility, Emma actress Greta Scacchie, Samuel West, known for his roles in All Creatures Great and Small, Greg Wise, who also starred in Emma and Tamsin Greig known for his roles in Friday Night Dinner and Belgravia. The show also provides historical insights from a range of experts and historians such as Dr Paula Byrne, Admiral Lord West, Dr Priya Atwal, Dr Louise Curran, Dr Paddy Bullard, and Ken Loach. The series has earned an impressive 8.8/10 rating on IMDb, with viewers praising it as a "must watch" for anyone interested in Jane Austen, literature and British history. Fans have also taken to X, formally known as Twitter, to share their opinion on the show. One fan penned: "Absolutely loved watching @BBC Jane Austen: Rise Of A Genius She was so ahead of her time. It's a 10 from me." With another writing: "Loved the first episode of Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius! I'm so looking forward to watching the other two parts." A third simply stated: "Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius on BBC2 was an excellent account of her independent spirit & determination."
Metro
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Steve Coogan reads the names of over 15,000 children killed in Gaza at vigil
Steve Coogan made a statement at a vigil at the Houses of Parliament as he read the names of 15,000 children who have died in Gaza. The actor and comedian, 59, was among the many people at the vigil organised by Choose Love on Thursday morning. The Alan Partridge actor, was one of the many artists who, for several minutes, read a long list of names of children who had been killed during the Israel-Hamas war. 'They were the names of children who have been killed in the bombing of Gaza in the last 20 months. 'It was just showing that those names are not just statistics, they are real people, real children who had lives who died and it's to some extent to humanise them. 'There's a world war phrase that one death is a tragedy and 10 thousand is a statistic,' he said, speaking to Sky News he said that he was at the event. In the same interview, he added: 'I'm here to protest about the, basically, enforced starvation of thousands of women and children in Gaza by the weaponisation of the blockade on aid to those people. 'And also it's to give this the coverage that a lot of mainstream news outlets aren't giving.' He said human rights should apply to everyone, and criticised tough rhetoric from governments in the UK, France and Canada as He added that human rights should be applied to every human and rhetoric from UK, French, and Canadian governments was 'too little, too late'. 'Tragically, it's taken the mass, indiscriminate killing of innocent people to get to this stage,' he said. 'I think more and more people are realising that it has to stop.' Juliet Stevenson, best known for acting in Bend It Like Beckham and Truly, Madly, Deeply, was also among the actors reading the exhaustive list of names. This vigil comes as the celebrities supporting Palestine grow, with stars including Dua Lipa, Gary Lineker and Benedict Cumberbatch calling on the Government to suspend arms sales to Israel in an open letter. More Trending The open letter read: 'We urge you to take immediate action to end the UK's complicity in the horrors in Gaza.' It highlights: 'Right now, children in Gaza are starving while food and medicine sit just minutes away, blocked at the border. Words won't feed Palestinian children – we need action. Every single one of Gaza's 2.1 million people is at risk of starvation, as you read this.' 'Mothers, fathers, babies, grandparents – an entire people left to starve before the world's eyes. 290,000 children are on the brink of death – starved by the Israeli government for more than 70 days.' This was about Israel's 11-week blockade of food and other supplies into Gaza, which was lifted last week to allow a 'basic amount of food into Gaza'. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Gazan doctor receives the charred remains of nine of her 10 children after Israeli bombing MORE: A mum in Gaza told me her children are waiting to die MORE: Everything we know so far about Washington DC shooting suspect Elias Rodriguez
