Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge #86 - Bend it Like Beckham

Welcome everyone to our 86th Cinema Saturday Challenge, where every week we pick a movie from which to create a card/project from - this week in honor of the World Cup as it approaches the Quarterfinals and onto the finals in one week, we are featuring the 2002 movie:"Bend it like Beckham" which was an independent british film that surprised and exceeded everyone's expectations by the global fan based that it created after its release. It touches on so many universal themes even though its about a Sikh girl's love off soccer in Britain - and how she has to figure out how to live her dreams and live the life that her family has planned out for her. Here is a lovely plot summary from IMDb:

"A comedy about bending the rules to reach your goal, Bend It Like Beckham explores the world of women's football, from kick-abouts in the park to freekicks in the Final. Set in Hounslow, West London and Hamburg, the film follows two 18 year olds with their hearts set on a future in professional soccer. Heart-stopping talent doesn't seem to be enough when your parents want you to hang up your football boots, find a nice boyfriend and learn to cook the perfect chapatti."

I can't even tell you how in SOOOO many ways - this story is SO much like my life growing up!! I loved watching this movie and felt like it so described how difficult it is to balance the goals that you have for yourself with those already set up for you by your family. Growing up Indian in another culture that had so many different values, it was difficult during the teenage years (my mom can tell you ALL about it!!) I have played soccer since I was very little and when I was 11 - joined the school teams and played through the college years. I absolutely love soccer and have just loved watching it through this World Cup (and even though my favorite team Brasil is not advancing - I am enjoying watching every game :)

I love seeing the main character: Jess and to see her love for soccer and how she realizes that she is good and wants to pursue this in a college across the ocean from her parents, who are conservative and have different values for her - and she still has faith in her dreams coming true, she also tries to balance honoring her family and her faith. So my card is inspired by this quality of faith - in believing in your dreams, the "knowing" and holding onto that faith through the periods darkness in your life. I used one of my MOST fave sentiments from the Faith and Hope stamp set from Taylored Expressions: "Faith is the bird that sings when the dawn is still dark." ~ Tagore.

This sentiment is just so beautiful and really symbolizes to me the beauty of having faith - even when everything looks uncertain. I made this card a circle in honor of the soccer ball (hee :), I used rich colors to represent the Indian culture, the flower represents her blossoming into herself and the sentiment represents the faith that she has in her self and in the very end - how this is a faith that her father also has in her and supports her dreams.

If you haven't seen this movie - its really a sweet movie (I love that British humor mixed in with Indian humor :D and I hope that you have a chance to play along with us this week. Please check out all the details and more cards created by this movie over at Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Big hugs,

Sankari :)