Bend It Like Becham and Looking for Alibrandi

This term we have studied the film bend it like beck ham and the novel looking for librarian. They both explore coming of age through different experiences to mature into the person they are today. But during that process they come across similar challenges to face. Jess is from a strict Indian silks family who expectations are high for both Jess and her sister pinky. The director of bend it like Béchamel explores the experiences of coming of age by showing challenges with her culture.
Jess wants to play football professional but her family and culture disapproves of this idea and has to go by her parent’s values. The point of view shoot from basis’s perspective and the quotation ” you can become a fine doctor and solicitor now ” this show the expectations and values of the family and culture. Josephine goes through similar challenges where she struggles to accept her culture and not hate it. Josephine says, ” I hate being Italian ” this shows Josephine not liking her culture and her background. Both
Josephine and Jess go through similar challenges with their culture and learning to cope with it. Throughout the film and the novel Josses and Jess have to go through challenges with their family, Josses has grown up her whole life without a dad. When her dad shows up Josses is shocked and doesn’t want to see him. “We don’t need him”, Josses says to her mum ,telling her she doesn’t want him in her life. Through out the novel Josses has to overcome her hate she had for her dad in the past and let it go. And allow accepting him in her life.

Jess might not have a new dad in her life but she sure does have family issues. Jess finds out her finals is on the same day as her sisters wedding. She has to choose between her futures of her family. She chooses family because she knows it’s the right thing to do ” IM not lying any more” Jess says realizing . Lying is not right and has to become more mature and choose right decisions. As the wedding goes on her dad saw she was upset and allowed her to go to the rest of the game on a conditions she comes back straight after.
The parallel hot of pinky held up by Teeth and Jess been help up by her team and Josses learning to accept her dad represents that both girls have achieved a new mile stone in the coming of age experience. By going through the experience of coming through age Josses and Jess also go through different challenges. Jess has gender restrictions where her culture and family do not believe a girl should play football Jess ignores her culture and lies to her parent’s . When her parent’s find out and forbids her to play again Jess stands up to her family telling them this is my passion and what I love to do. F I can’t tell you what I want now, then I will never be happy’ Jess sticks up in what she wants in life even if her culture and family do not agree. Josses also goes through a harsh time when her close friend died I wonder now why I thought it John’s suicide] wasn’t true. Paper and could forget the next day. ” This shows Josses trying to accept John has died and is never coming back. Both Josses and Jess have similar challenges to allow them to come of age thought out the novel and film but despite there similarities they also have differences as well.