Eating Popcorn like a Lawyer - Featuring Prof. Vrinda Narain

Organised in collaboration with the Sciences Po Law School, ‘Eating Popcorn like a Lawyer’ is a monthly law and film seminar series that seeks to establish a continuous dialogue between the two fields. For each instalment we invite a prominent legal scholar to select, discuss and analyse a thought-provoking film. 

For the October session of this fall term, we have invited Prof. Vrinda Narain to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Gurinder Chadha’s modern classic Bend it like Beckham.  

Using sports as a unifier of different communities, the film is remarkable for the lighthearted way in which it shines a light on immigrant culture, gender stereotypes, and the evolving concept of Britishness. It highlights relatable issues of identity, in-betweenness and LGBTQ+ issues. Through its plot, music, joy and humour, Bend it like Beckham showcases cliched stereotypes and how to move the conversation beyond them. It is telling us that all these issues are complicated and that it is okay to make mistakes. 

The seminar will take place in Room 609 and is open to students and faculty alike, but all are asked to watch the film beforehand. It is available for free streaming via the McGill Library and otherwise available for rent for a small price on a variety of streaming platforms including YouTube. You can also join us via Zoom by registering here. 

The Law and Film team: 

Edward van Daalen (McGill Faculty of Law) 

Vittoria Becci (Sciences Po Law School) 

Alexia Katsiginis (Sciences Po Law School) 

eatingpopcornlikealawyer [at] gmail.com