Blinded by the Light Movie Review
If you’re a die hard Bruce Springsteen fan, then you should run to see Blinded by the Light. The movie is set in the late 1980’s and packs a lot of Springsteen into its two hour run time. Here’s a fun fact for you: the director, Gurinder Chadha, was also a writer on Bend It Like Beckham. So if you liked the vibe of Bend It Like Beckham (and how could you not?) then there’s a good chance you’ll like Blinded by the Light.
Javed (Viveik Kalra) is a teenager growing up in a small town in England during a period of economic and political chaos. His family is from Pakistan and is struggling to make ends meet. Javed has a strained relationship with his father, Malik (Kulvinder Ghir), who doesn’t seem to appreciate Javed’s aspirations of becoming a writer. Javed’s life is changed when a boy from school, Roops (Aaron Phagura), introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteen. Javed connects with Springsteen’s lyrics and they play a pivotal role in helping him to navigate his life.
This is a classic story of family disputes and the pains of becoming an adult. However, it’s spiced up with a great soundtrack from The Boss. What made it more interesting to me is that it’s based on a real story. The real “Javed” is journalist Sarfraz Manzoor and the movie is based off of his book entitled Greetings from Bury Park. The nerd in me loved the theme of music being a universal language. Songs and lyrics can speak to you regardless of where you’re from and it’s a unique form of expression that connects us all. Sometimes we need music to help us through the tough times or to give us the courage to keep going even when all seems lost.
Blinded by the Light did an excellent job of showcasing how powerful music can be in navigating life and helping us connect to others. However, if you see this, you will immediately want to play all of Springsteen’s discography. I have “Born to Run” playing in my head on repeat right now. If you haven’t blasted The Boss in your car with the windows rolled down lately, this movie will fix that.
Film or Movie: Movie
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You love Bruce Springsteen
2. You enjoy movies that focus on music
3. You want to rekindle the spark to follow your dreams
