KNOXVILLE –- “Bend It Like Beckham,” a film about a girl from an orthodox Sikh family who wishes to play soccer, will be the featured film at Intercultural Intersections at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, in the Hodges Library Auditorium at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Intercultural Intersections, sponsored by the Ready for the World initiative, is a series of Sunday afternoon events designed to help UT students, faculty, staff and the public explore cultures meeting across national, ethnic, racial, religious, political and sexual boundaries.
“Bend It Like Beckham” is “lightweight, thoroughly charming fluff about the gulf between immigrant parents and their assimilated children and the family ties that bridge the divide,” a TV Guide review says.
“After moving to England, Jasminder ‘Jess’ Bhamra realizes her desperation to play football, which the U.S. calls soccer. Contrary to her parents’ beliefs, Jess’ goal is not to get good grades and marry into a good family,” the review says. “The film is filled with comedy, warmth and a lusty head coach. It tries to inspire people to go for the goal while being who they want to be.”
The goal of “Ready for the World: The International and Intercultural Awareness Initiative” is to transform the campus into a culture of diversity that best prepares students for working and competing in the 21st century. The initiative involves increasing the diversity among students, faculty and staff; infusing the curriculum with international and intercultural content; expanding study-abroad and work-study opportunities; and encouraging students to take advantage of all of these opportunities.
For more information about Ready for the World, see http://www.utk.edu/readyfortheworld/.
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Contact:
Amy Blakely, (865) 974-5034, amy.blakely@tennessee.edu