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Bend it like Beckham, a first on N. Korea TV
Breaking the monotony of regular programmes and propaganda on North Korea’s state TV, the channel has broadcast its first-ever Western film — Gurinder Chadha’s ‘Bend it Like Beckham’.
Breaking the monotony of regular programmes and propaganda on North Korea’s state TV, the channel has broadcast its first-ever Western film — Gurinder Chadha’s ‘Bend it Like Beckham’.
The 2002 film, aired on December 26, stars Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley and is set in London. The film tells the story of an Indian girl who aspires to be a soccer star against the wishes of her conservative parents.
“Happy Christmas in Pyongyang. On 26/12, Bend it Like Beckham was first-ever Western-made film to air on TV. Well done to UK Embassy 4 arranging (sic),” South Korean news agency Yonhap quoted British ambassador to South Korea Martin Uden as saying on his Twitter account on Thursday.
Quoting a message aired during the broadcast, BBC said the film was shown to mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The film depicts some topics considered taboo in North Korea, such as homosexuality and inter-racial relationships.
Soccer is popular in North Korea, which sent its team to the South Africa World Cup earlier this year.
