Filming Techniques
Filming techniques in movies are very important, they make the audience feel a certain emotion or tell what is happening, even if it’s subconscious. Different filming techniques include camerawork, soundtrack, costumes and props, actors and lighting. Here are a few different scenes in the film that we've analysed for different filming techniques, but first, a little bit about the soundtrack.
Soundtrack
If you really listen to the soundtrack in Bend it like Beckham, you'll notice there are two main types of music, Eastern and Western. In the scenes where Jess is being free, playing football and away from the family, often Western music is playing over the top. When Jess is with her family, or it's a scene in the house or wedding, Eastern, Indian music plays over the top of the scene.
Hamburg Scene
From the point at which Jess gets onto the bus to the airport until she misses the goal.
When Jess arrives at the bus the shot is long, giving a full view of the scene, with Jess, Joe and all the girls in the bus, and the shot pans. As soon as the door shuts on the bus, the exiting music picks up, and then the shot changes to that of the airport, where it gives a panning establishing shot of the aeroplane with the team getting out. There is then a mid-shot of Jess and Jules, showing their facial expressions, as this is more effective than just showing them from far away.
Then in Hamburg on the boat it’s almost like a montage of short shots. There’s a lot of photo-taking and you always see Jess and Jules together, giving you the feeling of how close they are. There’s no audio except the Western music to give it an exciting feeling. There is then a shot of the team walking up a tall, spiralling staircase, with the camera looking up towards the roof, this gives the shot a feeling that this place is big, new, and an adventure.
The movie then cuts to the soccer match, where the shots are fast, following the ball and very short, with dark lighting. When Jess walks up to kick the goal, the shot, although you may not notice it, slows down, panning instead of changing, and the music slows. All the lights are on Jess, making her seem vulnerable and like all eyes are on her. Even the official in the background makes it seems important.
There’s something very interesting about the shot where she kicks the ball, because subconsciously it gives you warning that she’s going to miss. If you watch the movie you’ll notice that the camera is placed behind the net, giving you a feeling that you’re distanced, like a jail or trapped behind the net. The kick is also quite quick, no slo-mo or anything. When she misses the music also switches to Eastern.
Results
When Jess gets her results until she kicks the ball in the backyard
There is an establishing shot at first, which shows where the scene is set. The shot is of the houses in their street. It then cuts to when Mrs Bhamra is praying to Babaji before opening the letter, and the camera is placed at a high angle, as if it’s looking out of Babaji’s eyes, making the family seem small and Babaji powerful. When Mr Bhamra tells Jess what she can be, the sad Eastern music picks up, giving a feeling she’s submitted to her culture. The next shot is of her hanging washing in the backyard, where she kicks the ball through the washing. This scene, when you go deeper, has more meaning. The colourful saris hanging from the washing line symbolize her culture, family, and domesticity. When she kicks the ball through the clothes, it’s like she wants freedom, kicking through her culture.
Filming techniques in movies are very important, they make the audience feel a certain emotion or tell what is happening, even if it’s subconscious. Different filming techniques include camerawork, soundtrack, costumes and props, actors and lighting. Here are a few different scenes in the film that we've analysed for different filming techniques, but first, a little bit about the soundtrack.
Soundtrack
If you really listen to the soundtrack in Bend it like Beckham, you'll notice there are two main types of music, Eastern and Western. In the scenes where Jess is being free, playing football and away from the family, often Western music is playing over the top. When Jess is with her family, or it's a scene in the house or wedding, Eastern, Indian music plays over the top of the scene.
Hamburg Scene
From the point at which Jess gets onto the bus to the airport until she misses the goal.
When Jess arrives at the bus the shot is long, giving a full view of the scene, with Jess, Joe and all the girls in the bus, and the shot pans. As soon as the door shuts on the bus, the exiting music picks up, and then the shot changes to that of the airport, where it gives a panning establishing shot of the aeroplane with the team getting out. There is then a mid-shot of Jess and Jules, showing their facial expressions, as this is more effective than just showing them from far away.
Then in Hamburg on the boat it’s almost like a montage of short shots. There’s a lot of photo-taking and you always see Jess and Jules together, giving you the feeling of how close they are. There’s no audio except the Western music to give it an exciting feeling. There is then a shot of the team walking up a tall, spiralling staircase, with the camera looking up towards the roof, this gives the shot a feeling that this place is big, new, and an adventure.
The movie then cuts to the soccer match, where the shots are fast, following the ball and very short, with dark lighting. When Jess walks up to kick the goal, the shot, although you may not notice it, slows down, panning instead of changing, and the music slows. All the lights are on Jess, making her seem vulnerable and like all eyes are on her. Even the official in the background makes it seems important.
There’s something very interesting about the shot where she kicks the ball, because subconsciously it gives you warning that she’s going to miss. If you watch the movie you’ll notice that the camera is placed behind the net, giving you a feeling that you’re distanced, like a jail or trapped behind the net. The kick is also quite quick, no slo-mo or anything. When she misses the music also switches to Eastern.
Results
When Jess gets her results until she kicks the ball in the backyard
There is an establishing shot at first, which shows where the scene is set. The shot is of the houses in their street. It then cuts to when Mrs Bhamra is praying to Babaji before opening the letter, and the camera is placed at a high angle, as if it’s looking out of Babaji’s eyes, making the family seem small and Babaji powerful. When Mr Bhamra tells Jess what she can be, the sad Eastern music picks up, giving a feeling she’s submitted to her culture. The next shot is of her hanging washing in the backyard, where she kicks the ball through the washing. This scene, when you go deeper, has more meaning. The colourful saris hanging from the washing line symbolize her culture, family, and domesticity. When she kicks the ball through the clothes, it’s like she wants freedom, kicking through her culture.