Jesminder "Jess" Bhamra (Parminder Nagra) is the 18-year-old daughter of Punjabi Sikhs from Hounslow, west London. Juliette "Jules" Paxton (Keira Knightley) is the daughter of an English couple. Jess is infatuated with football, but because she is female, her parents do not allow her to play. However, she sometimes plays in the park with various boys and her good friend Tony, a closet homosexual. When Jules discovers Jess' skills, she invites Jess to try out for her local team, the Hounslow Harriers, coached by Joe (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), an Irishman. Although initially skeptical, Joe is convinced by watching Jess play, and puts her on the team. Jess lies to Joe about her parents being on board with the idea. She becomes fast friends with Jules and Marlena "Mel" Goines (Shaznay Lewis).Jess is attracted to Joe, a gora. When the team travels to Hamburg, Jess and Joe's relationship develops; at the end of the night the two are about to kiss when Jules (who also has a crush on Joe) interrupts them, souring Jess and Jules' friendship. When Jess arrives at Jules' house to try to fix the friendship, Mrs. Paxton is misled and thinks that the pair are involved in a lesbian relationship. Jess' parents learn that she has been playing on the team and become more strict, ensuring she does not attend matches. Meanwhile, the elder Bhamras are distracted by the elaborate preparations for the upcoming wedding of their older daughter, Pinky (Archie Panjabi).

Starring

Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, more..

Director

Gurinder Chadha

Language

Hindi

Genre

Release Date

Fri Jul, 12 2002

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Parminder Nagra

... Jesminder 'Jess' Kaur Bhamra

Keira Knightley

... Juliette 'Jules' Paxton

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

... Joe

Anupam Kher

... Mr. Bhamra

Archie Panjabi

... Pinky Bhamra

Gurinder Chadha

... producer

Craig Pruess

... Music

Lin Jong

... Cinematography

Justin Krish

... Editing

Carrie Hilton

... Casting