Blinded by the Light (2019)

Review

117min

Genre:     Comedy, Drama, Music

Director:  Gurinder Chadha

Cast:       Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Nell Williams…and more

Writers:   Paul Mayeda Berges, Gurinder Chadha and Sarfraz Manzoor

-Synopsis-

Struggling to fit in and find his voice in Thatcher’s austere late 1980s Britain, a British-Pakistani teen discovers a melodic beacon of hope to guide him through his experiences—the music of Bruce Springsteen—as the director of ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ and ‘Bride & Prejudice’ brings us a feelgood musical coming-of-age tale, inspired by a true culture-clash story of self-discovery.

Capitalising on an appetite for nostalgia-fuelled, music-driven feelgood dramedies which has seen audiences take to recent films like ‘Sing Street’ and ‘Yesterday’, and armed with the memoirs of journalist and broadcaster Sarfraz Manzoor on which the film is based, expert on Western filmmaking from an Asian and Indian subcontinent perspective Gurinder Chadha adds a timely cultural layer and injects a tale of immigration and intolerance into a classic family drama of fathers and sons—and an upbeat meditation on the bridge-building power of music.

Viveik Kalra stars as sixteen-year-old Pakistani-British Muslim ‘Javed’, stuck in dreary late 80s Luton going through the typical growing pains of adolescence, but with the added dimension of being an immigrant in a less tolerant era, while struggling to balance his aspirations of being a writer with family obligations and the strict traditional demands of his father ‘Malik’ (Kulvinder Ghir). But when he unexpectedly finds an unlikely kindred spirit through the music of ‘The Boss’, Javed’s life takes a turn towards the hopeful, as romance blooms with militant classmate ‘Eliza’ (Nell Williams), while a literary future and life beyond Luton looms beyond the horizon—only for his relationship with childhood friend ‘Matt’ (Dean-Charles Chapman), his disapproving father and his family to be tested, forcing him to make a decision about who he is . . . and who he wants to be.

For a feelgood musical coming-of-age tale which is contemplative yet hopeful and slightly over-the-top, ‘Blinded by the Light’ has the rare distinction of being nostalgic and reflective of our past while feeling simultaneously ripped from the headlines and the current popular discourse, as Chadha paints a light but pensive portrait of growing up as an immigrant minority in 1980s Britain, with clear contemporary echoes of racism and the struggles of the working class. And all while staging the action in Luton—a town changed by immigration in the late 20th century, which remains a culturally divided racial flashpoint that has hosted the rise of white nationalist parties like the EDL in recent years.

This is also a different cultural take on a classic small town coming-of-age narrative, the timeless outsider tale of trying to fit in while staying true to who you are, chasing all your teenage yearnings while looking to the horizon where the grass seems greener, and struggling with the trials and tribulations of family life.

But much like it’s the inspiration for Javed—and indeed the real life person on which he’s based—to change his life, the music of Springsteen is both the driving force behind the story and the melodic heart & soul of the film, as multiple classics from his extensive catalogue are used as not only the soundtrack for ‘Blinded by the Light’, but as key components in driving the narrative and developing the characters . . . not to mention giving the audience an excuse to tap their toes for nearly two hours.

Most importantly though, this film is a tribute to Bruce Springsteen which tries to reframe the perception of the man for the uninitiated and a new generation, by crafting a cinematic ode to the timeless and universal  genius of his writing, and the pure heart of his musicianship—both of which bridged a gap between New Jersey and Luton, and between the working classes around the globe, laying bare the sombre realities of who we are and the promise of who we want to be . . . which ultimately connect us all.

Yet in spite of its universal themes, a fresh cultural perspective, an engaging lead performance and being driven by the energy of ‘The Boss’, ‘Blinded by the Light’ falls slightly flat and feels a tad uneven—fluctuating uncomfortably back and forth from gleeful and triumphant to mopey and self-pitying, and straining to sew together two narratives which feel disparate but should fit together more naturally.

Despite being armed with and inspired by Springsteen’s music, as the story’s subject is, Chadha doesn’t really seem to know what to do with this mighty catalogue of classics. She occasionally flirts (unsuccessfully) with making a musical, while at other times plasters the lyrics onto the screen with dubious effect, and sometimes just has the characters running around Luton to the soundtrack of his tunes—quite literally—while their meek attempts at singing the songs result in some cringeworthy scenes which just don’t resonate as intended, as do some of the well-meaning but slightly saccharine moments towards the end.

So it may have its narrative issues, and be far from a delightful modern classic, but there’s still plenty in this melodic portrait of a bygone era to stir audience emotions and tickle the funny bone, while proving resonant enough to encourage reflection about the country and world we live in. But most importantly remind us all why the call Bruce Springsteen ‘The Boss’.

The Bottom Line…

A well-meaning, crowd-pleasing family drama and coming-of-age story designed to build bridges between cultures, with working class struggles and Bruce Springsteen as that bridge, ‘Blinded by the Light’ fails to consistently delight, completely capture the imagination, or leave a lasting mark thanks to its narrative choices—but it builds enough nostalgia points and universal themes to piggyback off the energy of ‘The Boss’, and make for a satisfying British dramedy from a rare perspective.

Similar films you may like (Home Video)

Sing Street (2016)

In 1980s recession-hit Ireland, a teenager rebels against society’s norms and escapes family strife by forming a ‘New-Romantic’ band to impress a girl in an 80s coming-of-age musical comedy from the director of ‘Begin Again’.

Directed by John Carney and starring Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Jack Reynor and Lucy Boynton among others.

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