Blinded by the Light

Starring: Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Aaron Phagura, Dean-Charles Chapman, Nell Williams, Hayley Atwell

Director: Gurinder Chadha

Set in 1987, British Pakistani Javed (Viveik Kalra) wants to escape his home town of Luton and find his place to make his mark. He is a gifted writer, although the only writing he does outside of private poems is write lyrics for his best friend Matt's(Dean-Charles Chapman) band. He has to keep his writing a secret from his father Malik (Kulvinder Ghir), who doesn't think Javed has time for such foolishness when he must obey his father's wishes and support the family. At school, he meets a fellow Pakistani, Roops (Aaron Phagura), who introduces him to the music of American artist Bruce Springsteen, aka "the Boss". While Javed initially believes that there is no way Springsteen has any connection to his world and life, once he listens to the music he soon connects to the lyrics and models his life around it. In doing so, he finds the confidence to not only pursue his writing but also follow through on his feelings for activist classmate Eliza (Nell Williams).

I wasn't expecting a movie based on Springsteen's music to work as well as it did. I wasn't a big fan of Yesterday, which was based on the music of The Beatles, and feared this would tread a similar path.

Based on the true story of screenwriter Sarfraz Manzoor, I found this to be an inspirational and emotional journey. Some things didn't work for me, notably two or three times where the music was used in a music video type fashion. I understand what they were going for but it's a jarring tonal shift.

The film also makes a point to discuss the racism that was present in Luton at the time, with many Brits using violence and threats as a way of letting families like Javed's know they weren't welcome. While it is a prevalent plot point, I wish the movie had explored it more, especially since Eliza was an activist and against it. 

These are minor gripes, as I found myself getting quite invested in the film. Viveik Kalra is quite a find, with this being his first feature role. Once he listens to Springsteen's music, he instantly feels the connection. While this transition may feel quick to some, Kalra sells it because you're invested in his situation. Similarly, Kulvinder Ghir is fantastic as Malik. While he opposed Javed, he is a man rooted in tradition and is never made to be the outright villain. Their relationship is the emotional core of the film and they carry it admirably.

It's hard to make films based off true stories now a days, as they all seem to follow a similar plot. While this is no different, I found myself caught up in the characters and infectious spirit thanks to two outstanding lead performances. 

B+