NKorea's state TV airs British film 'Bend it Like Beckham'

SEOUL: Breaking the monotony of regular programmes and propaganda on North Korea's state TV, the channel has broadcast first ever western film -- Gurinder Chadha's 'Bend it Like Beckham'.The 2002 film was aired on December 26 starring ParminderNagra and Keira Knightley is set in London and revolves around an Indian family.The film tells the story of an Indian girl who aspires to be a soccer staragainst the wishes of her conservative parents."Happy Christmas inPyongyang. On 26/12 Bend it Like Beckham was 1st ever western-made film to airon TV. Well done to UK Embassy 4 arranging," South Korean news agency Yonhapquoted British Ambassador to South Korea Martin Uden as saying on his Twitteraccount on Thursday.Quoting a message aired during the broadcast,BBC said the film was shown to mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment ofdiplomatic ties between the two countries.In the movie, Beckham refers to David Beckham, the iconic British soccer star and Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder.The film depicts some topics considered taboo in NorthKorea, such as homosexuality and inter-racial relationships.Socceris popular in North Korea, which sent its national squad to the South AfricaWorld Cup earlier this year. In September, a British women's football team froma town that had hosted North Korea's World Cup squad in 1966 traveled to theNorth to play exhibition matches.