please her parents. Bend It Like Beckham exemplifies the challenges that young women with cultural restrictions face. The challenges in Bend It Like Beckham are presented in the way that still allows the audience to connect with Jesminder’s experiences despite being held back by their own family tradition. Through Jesminder’s willpower and desire to succeed, the audience learns to never give up on their dreams because hard work pays off. (Chadha) Jesminder idolizes David Beckham; his success gave her the motivation to work hard and follow her dream of playing soccer. “‘Nobody can bend it like Beckham,’ she beams, referring to his extraordinary ability to warp space in order to get the ball to the goal.” (Fuchs) The movie shows how overcoming challenges and life experiences really shape a person. Bend It Like Beckham beams positive energy; the cast is to credit for the excitement that the movie brings to the audience. “British import Bend It Like Beckham encourages moviegoers to chase after whatever that thing happens to be with zest and passion.” (Isaac) The Namesake, a book written by Jhumpa Lahiri, and Bend It Like Beckham, a movie directed by Gurinder Chadha, display cultural impact on young girls. The culture one associates themselves with does not change who they are as a person, but can cause conflict. Gogol Ganguli and Jesminder Bhamra are torn between two cultures; they both conform to their new society, but still have the desire to please their parents. Gogol struggles with his identity because of his given name and his lack of knowledge about his name’s significance. Jesminder struggles with her identity because she has dedicated herself to a soccer team, but has to please her parents and stay loyal to her Indian culture at home. Jesminder has two different identities, one with her soccer team and another with her family. Jhumpa Lahiri’s use of detail indulges the readers in the emotions of the characters. Her manipulation of the narration helps the reader to experience the full story with the characters. Gurinder Chadha’s use of different shots and angles engages the viewers, while also making them feel related to the characters. As Albert Einstein once said, “The only source of knowledge is experience.” Through life experience, Gogol and Jesminder discover and accept their true identity, the meaning of life, and their place in society and the world around them.>