There are some films that make you want to stand up in the aisles and dance along with the characters on the screen. Gurinder Chadha’s Blinded by the Light is one of these films. It is the true definition of a feel-good movie, and it’s a film that beams off the screen and embraces you with its positiveness and warmth. Inspired by the life of journalist Sarfraz Manzoor, and his acclaimed memoir Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N’ Roll, this coming-of-age tale centers around Javed, a British-Pakistani Muslim teenager whose life is changed after he discovers the music of Bruce Springsteen.
Javed (Viveik Kalra) is a British teenager of Pakistani descent, growing up in the town of Luton, England, in 1987. He dreams of escaping his home town (expressing his desire in a poem he pens called ‘Luton is a four-letter word’), but his overprotective, and very traditional father, Malik (Kulvinder Ghir), is less than enthusiastic about Javed’s dreams to become a writer (‘How many Pakistani writers do you know?’). One day, Javed is loaned the cassette tapes of Bruce Springsteen, by his new friend Roops (Aaron Phagura). Javed instantly connects with ‘the boss’ whose music seems to parallel much of Javed’s own life. Many of Springsteen’s songs address the tension felt between fathers and sons, which strikes a chord with Javed.
Inspired by Springsteen and his new English teacher, Ms. Clay (Hayley Atwell), Javed decides to come out from his shell. Often teased by his best-friend Matt (Dean-Charles Chapman) about not having a girlfriend, Javed becomes involved with Eliza (Nell Williams) who seems to embody everything that Javed lacks. Javed even builds up the courage to face the local fascists, in one of the film’s most uplifting scenes. However, Javed’s biggest challenge comes in the form of his overbearing father.
“Blinded by the Light is also a powerful reflection on the 1980s.”
This year has seen a flurry of British music-based comedies with the likes of Wild Rose and Yesterday, and Blinded by the Light continues to demonstrate the power of music and comedy and the impact that both of these things can have in our lives. Chadha manages to show us how music is a universal language, which can bring people from all backgrounds together. Like Wild Rose, Blinded by the Light is also cemented in the British working-class culture, but it never crosses the line of mocking or poking fun at them. Blinded by the Light is also a powerful reflection on the 1980s, addressing the vast unemployment and recession that hit the period.
Aside from addressing the social and political aspects of the 80s, the film is also a touching time capsule to cultural aspects of the era from the cheesy pop music (does anyone actually remember Tiffany?), big hair, and even bigger mobile phones. People outside the U.K. may not get all of the references, but a home audience will take delight in watching that infamous Michael Fish weather report which he dismisses reports of a hurricane that went on to become the ‘Great Storm of 1987’. Chadha stages Javed’s ‘Springsteen’ epiphany as the Great Storm erupts around him, the lyrics of Springsteen’s song appearing on the screen. It’s a bold, beautiful and inspiring moment, that is just as electrifying as the lightning we see in the sky behind Javed.
There are several wonderful, dizzying and energetic musical numbers in which Javed, Roops and Eliza (Nell Williams) dance through the streets of Luton. These moments are pure escapism and the viewer is absorbed into these delightful moments of pure cinema. Blinded By The Light is crammed full of Springsteen tunes, ticking off all the hits like “Born to Run” and “Thunder Road” and this is very much a love letter to Springsteen’s work, and even if you’re not a fan of Springsteen then there’s much to enjoy here. Chadha is an expert at genre-blending and even if the musical numbers are a little too cheesy for some, then you’ll be sure to enjoy the film’s more serious and dramatic moments.
“Chandha certainly knows how to capture the joy of cinema in her work.”
Like Chadha’s hit film Bend it like Beckham, Blinded by the Light shares many of the same themes, such as the conflict between tradition and following your dreams, the tension between parents and their children, and finding one’s identity. Chadha’s filmography manages to capture the lives of second-generation immigrants caught between two worlds and her films are deeply personal. Even though her work tends to focus on a female protagonist, the character of Javed seems to embody much of Chadha’s personality and this is very much a film with a female gaze and voice.
Kalra absolutely shines as Javed, and it’s no wonder that he was nominated for Best Actor At the 2019 SIFF Awards. Kulvinder Ghir also delivers a career best performance, and he manages to capture the depth and layers that make up his character. The supporting cast is also noteworthy, with the likes of Meera Ganatra, Rob Brydon, Sally Phillips among others showcasing the wealth of British talent currently working in the industry.
Blinded by the Light is a film that will go on to be a much-loved family film, and Chandha certainly knows how to capture the joy of cinema in her work. There’s so much to enjoy here that it’s hard to cover everything in one review. Like the character of Javed, I wasn’t aware I was missing out on the magic of Springsteen until I saw this film, and this will leave you singing Springsteen tunes for days. If you only see one film this summer, then please make sure it’s Blinded by the Light.
