A lot of films in the past couple years have been aimed at reminding millennials just how good the music of the past was.
So far, there have been movies celebrating the irreplaceable music of Queen (Bohemian Rhapsody), Elton John (Rocketman) and The Beatles (Yesterday), among others. The latest, Blinded by the Light, is an exuberant film that tells the true story of a Pakistani boy who finds himself through Bruce Springsteen’s relatable lyrics.
Contrasting the aforementioned films, Blinded by the Light doesn’t necessarily focus on the artist—it focuses on the impact the artist can have on people from differing cultures and lifestyles, which makes the film as good as it is.
The film begins by briefly showing a glimpse of Javed (Viveik Kalra), a Pakistani boy taking note of all his thoughts into a diary he’s not ashamed of, and his best friend, Matt (Dean-Charles Chapman), a white boy, in 1980s England. They’re looking out onto the highway in front of them, trying to imagine the bright futures they hope to have. It then transitions into 1987 and shows Matt pursuing his music career while Javed, not surprisingly, is going to school and has ambitions to be a writer.
Javed and his family endure racism from most of their surrounding white community. He writes his political thoughts and inner feelings into poems and his diary. While at school, he meets the only other South Asian boy, Roops (Aaron Phagura), who shares Springsteen’s raw, relatable music with Javed. Javed divulges into Springsteen at his low points, showing just how powerful music can be.
Director Gurinder Chadha, screenwriter Sarfraz Manzoor—who the film is based on—and the casting are all sensational. Kalra phenomenally portrays a struggling boy wanting to pursue his writing dreams, despite his dad, who heads the house and disagrees with Javed’s dreams. Kulvinder Ghir’s performance as Javed’s father is so magnificent you’ll hate him for the majority of the film.
One of the only people cheering for Javed the whole time, his English teacher, Ms. Clay (Hayley Atwood), provides a splendid performance of what a teacher is supposed to do: Be supportive and look past any racial barrier, which a lot of the surrounding characters in the film fail to do.
Of course, the music doesn’t lack. Twelve Springsteen tracks can be heard throughout the film along with fabulous work from Pet Shop Boys, a-ha and others. Each song is used at the right time to exemplify either the rage or catharsis Javed is undergoing.
The political connotations mark some of the most crucial aspects of the film. The film accurately displays the hardships those from other cultures frequently have to suffer through, while reminding viewers it doesn’t always leave the sufferers broken. They just have to find something to lean on, which, for Javed and Roops, are Springsteen’s anthems about admitting the world is hateful, yet it has good intentions that you have to be brave enough to search for.
Blinded by the Light is hopeful, brilliant and lovable, and it displays a political climate that hasn’t completely faltered. It’s a perfect summer film for its infectious storyline and music, and it offers a look into how to battle for everything you want in life—by, in Javed’s words, “not letting the hardness of the world stop you from letting the best of you slip away.”
