Javed is a Pakistani teenager who experiences racial and economic turmoil while living in Luton, England, in 1987. He writes poetry as a way to escape the intolerance of his hometown and the stubborn views of his traditional father. When a classmate introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteen, Javed sees parallels between the singer's powerful lyrics and his own working-class environment. Springsteen's melodies soon inspire Javed to find his own voice and follow his dreams.
At first glance, the trailer makes this look somewhat similar in style to Yesterday which was released just over two months ago and had a soundtrack that was entirely centred around The Beatles music. While Blinded By The Light does also centre its soundtrack around a single artist, this film is grounded in reality (being based on a true story) and has far less of a focus on romantic interests.
One of the things about this film that I liked, was the whole environment and culture of the movie. The insights one could gain by looking back at a dramatization of what an immigrant family went through during the 80s in Thatcher's Britain could be very impactful in today's world, which is again finding itself with a rise of neo-fascism and an anti-immigrant culture. Funnily enough, this paragraph makes the film sound like something that would be labelled as "leftist propaganda". Regardless, I still wholeheartedly support its message.
Because what the film does really well, is to present these culturally different characters, and highlighting the similarities between them. Whether Pakistani or British, during tough economic times it is easier to try to place the blame on others, but when neither parties are the cause of the crisis, and both are simply trying to provide a positive life for their families, it puts things into perspective. It reminds the audience that we are all humans. It's a highly sympathetic element that draws you in and engages you; even when you disagree with the characters decisions, you understand their perspective.
It's that relatability that really hooks you in. While Bruce Springsteen's music may not be everyone's cup of tea, the idea of discovering an artist that feels like they are speaking to you on a spiritual level is something that we can all empathise with. Going through those formative teenage years when you start to realise the limitations of your parents' upbringing, and that search for direction and understanding, music is a powerful tool.
With themes of tradition versus progressive living, Blinded By The Light is a heartwarming coming-of-age story, that looks at the degradation of traditional family values during economic depressions. The film is far from perfect, however, with a tangle of different story events that act like they are significant but have no effect after the scene ends. This is the challenge when basing a 117-minute film on the memoirs of a person's life; properly separating out what to keep in, and what to leave out. There are a few supporting characters that could benefit from receiving more to do and more focus, but the film takes on so many little side stories, that it finds itself spread thin.
The tone is also a little inconsistent. For the majority of the runtime, the film is serious, with some subtle humour interwoven into the script. But there are other times when things take more of a fantastical musical turn, with characters breaking into song-and-dance, or environments changing for the plot in a way that is obviously highly-exaggerated. These song-and-dance numbers are okay, but also a bit cringe at times, undercutting the tension.
Viveik Kalra is a perfectly fine lead, and is very likeable for most of the film. His infectious enthusiasm for Bruce Springsteen's music is convincing, and the visual accompaniments connecting his situation to the lyrics or certain songs is well-executed. Ultimately, Blinded By The Light is enjoyable, but formulaic. While the handling of the topics of immigrants in Britain is well done, the overall story doesn't really stand out, and despite being a satisfying watch, is a film that will be forgotten in no time at all.