First, let me congratulate the Spanish National Team for winning their 2nd consecutive Euro (soccer) championship. While I was rooting for the Germany, I tuned in to witness their 4-0 trouncing of the Italian team; so in a way, it was sweet revenge!

As this real life football competition reached its conclusion, I was reminded of one of my favorite films in recent years – Bend it Like Beckham. Simply stated, it is a wonderful feel good movie that in many ways was my entree into following the world of soccer.

British teen Jesminder, or Jess (Parminder Nagra) is football–loving and David Beckham obsessed. Against her parents’ wishes and cultural expectations (she’s Anglo-Indian), she spends her summer playing soccer for a girls football club, at the urging of another teen, Jules (Keira Knightley), who spotted her playing footie in a local park.

As if that were not complicated enough, she begins to fall for her coach Joe (Jonathan Rhys Myers), thus testing her friendship with Jules to its limits.

I love this film for several reasons; least of which is the central cross-cultural conflict, handled with an effective amount of levity by director Gurinder Chadha.

Besides, Bend it Like Beckham is set in and around of my favorite cities, London!

So what are some of your favorite films about soccer (football)?

Share your comments below.