'Bend It Like Beckham' First Western Film Shown in... North Korea: Football Bridges Cultures
North Korea airs the film amid strict media controls.
In North Korea, media is tightly controlled by the government. Televisions are preset to official channels that mainly broadcast propaganda, and severe punishments are imposed on anyone caught accessing foreign media. Despite this strict censorship, in 2010 Bend It Like Beckham became the first Western film ever broadcast in the country.
The film follows the story of an 18-year-old British-Indian girl who defies her conservative parents by joining a semi-professional football team. It was screened in North Korea to commemorate ten years of diplomatic relations with Britain and was reportedly chosen due to the shared passion for football between the two nations.
However, because the film addresses themes considered taboo in North Korea — such as interracial relationships — it was heavily edited before airing. This landmark broadcast marked a rare cultural exchange in a country known for its stringent media restrictions.
