Groundbreaking 00s film Bend It Like Beckham made waves with its representation of British Asian culture. But it has an equally important queer subtext, argues Shivani Dave.

Pride month: revisiting the queer legacy of Bend It Like Beckham

Under Her Eye

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Even now, having watched the film countless times, I can feel my heart racing every time when Jules longingly gayzes across the park when she sees Jess for the first time

This is the first and only time I have seen baby queer desire, lust, longing and confusion on screen from a South Asian protagonist

Jules is always sporting a bandana, which, as we know, is the 00s version of a carabiner – aka very queer

There’s no reason why that other story wouldn’t be just as valid

In Stylist’s new Pride series, Shivani Dave reflects upon the queer legacy of the cult 00s film.

Pride month 2022: revisiting the queer legacy of Bend It Like Beckham