BLINDED BY THE LIGHT
****
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Screenwriters: Gurinder Chadha, Sarfraz Manzoor and Paul Mayeda Berges, based on the book Greetings from Bury Park – Race, Religion & Rock ‘n’ Roll by Sarfraz Manzoor.
Principal cast:
Viveik Kalra
Kulvinder Ghir
Aaron Phagura
Rob Brydon
Nell Williams
Hayley Atwell
Country: UK
Classification: PG
Runtime: 117 mins.
Australian release date: 24 October 2019
Previewed at: In-season at the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, Cremorne.
Blinded By The Light is the latest film from Gurinder Chadha and, like her 2002 title Bend It Like Beckham, it’s a nostalgic, enthusiastic story about a kid from a migrant family trying to fit in and find their place in the world. In this movie it’s 1987, Maggie Thatcher is PM and Britain is suffering from the racism stirred up by Enoch Powell and others. Javed (Viveik Kalra), the son of Pakistani parents, is stuck in dreary Luton on the outskirts of London, living with his mum, dad and two sisters. He’s spent most of his childhood recording the events of his short life in a series of diaries and writing poetry but now he’s 16 and studying hard at school because he wants to be accepted into Manchester University, where there is an acclaimed writing course and, a big plus, it’s as far away as possible from his father’s clutches.
On his first day at a new school he makes friends with a Sikh classmate, Roops (Aaron Phagura), who turns him on to the music and lyrics of Bruce Springsteen, telling him that “Bruce is a direct line to all that’s true in this shitty world.” ‘The Boss’ opens up whole new vistas for Javed, ones that recognise his struggle for acceptance and send him a message to believe in yourself and follow your dreams. Javed’s English teacher, Ms. Clay (Hayley Atwell), spots his talent and encourages him to pursue his writing, which she acknowledges as a “gift.” The teenager is also spurred on by fellow classmate Eliza (Nell Williams), who comes from a middle-class background and is rebelling against her up-bringing and her parents’ bigotry; remember, the setting is Thatcher’s Britain, a time of ‘Paki-bashing’, the National Front and rising opposition to immigration. He’s also got a big crush on the girl. Javed is surrounded by all sorts of negative situations, including harassment from classmates who pick on his Pakistani heritage, and being badgered by his father Malik (Kulvinder Ghir), who insists that Javed retain his traditional values instead of embracing English ones, expecting him to hand over his wages from his part-time job and constantly reminding him of the sacrifice he made in relocating the family to the UK. As the music plays, however (and it certainly does - Springsteen licensed 12 songs to the production, including one that was previously unreleased), and Javed listens to Bruce’s thoughtful lyrics, he finds the strength to fight his battles.
Blinded By The Light is a light-hearted portrayal of teenage angst and Chadha makes good use of Springsteen’s catalogue to illustrate the various dilemmas our hero has to confront. Kalra’s performance is terrific and he is ably supported by the rest of the cast, particularly Ghir as his traditional Pakistani father and Phagura as his school chum. There is also a funny performance by comedian Rob Brydon, who plays a mate’s dad and fellow Springsteen fan. Chadha has successfully captured the inspiration and resulting influence that music can have on people of any age, not just on young ones, and her film has real charm. She has cleverly reinforced the power of ‘The Boss’s’ songs by using his lyrics on screen in a variety of novel ways. The singer’s well-known hits are also augmented by a score from Oscar-winning composer A. R. Rahman. At times, BBTL almost strays into musical theatre territory but ultimately stays this side of the stage.
Overall, Blinded By The Light is an endearing, if somewhat saccharine, coming-of-age story, but it’s one that will have you singing and ‘Dancing in the Dark’. It’s thoroughly entertaining.
Screenwriters: Gurinder Chadha, Sarfraz Manzoor and Paul Mayeda Berges, based on the book Greetings from Bury Park – Race, Religion & Rock ‘n’ Roll by Sarfraz Manzoor.
Principal cast:
Viveik Kalra
Kulvinder Ghir
Aaron Phagura
Rob Brydon
Nell Williams
Hayley Atwell
Country: UK
Classification: PG
Runtime: 117 mins.
Australian release date: 24 October 2019
Previewed at: In-season at the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, Cremorne.
Blinded By The Light is the latest film from Gurinder Chadha and, like her 2002 title Bend It Like Beckham, it’s a nostalgic, enthusiastic story about a kid from a migrant family trying to fit in and find their place in the world. In this movie it’s 1987, Maggie Thatcher is PM and Britain is suffering from the racism stirred up by Enoch Powell and others. Javed (Viveik Kalra), the son of Pakistani parents, is stuck in dreary Luton on the outskirts of London, living with his mum, dad and two sisters. He’s spent most of his childhood recording the events of his short life in a series of diaries and writing poetry but now he’s 16 and studying hard at school because he wants to be accepted into Manchester University, where there is an acclaimed writing course and, a big plus, it’s as far away as possible from his father’s clutches.
On his first day at a new school he makes friends with a Sikh classmate, Roops (Aaron Phagura), who turns him on to the music and lyrics of Bruce Springsteen, telling him that “Bruce is a direct line to all that’s true in this shitty world.” ‘The Boss’ opens up whole new vistas for Javed, ones that recognise his struggle for acceptance and send him a message to believe in yourself and follow your dreams. Javed’s English teacher, Ms. Clay (Hayley Atwell), spots his talent and encourages him to pursue his writing, which she acknowledges as a “gift.” The teenager is also spurred on by fellow classmate Eliza (Nell Williams), who comes from a middle-class background and is rebelling against her up-bringing and her parents’ bigotry; remember, the setting is Thatcher’s Britain, a time of ‘Paki-bashing’, the National Front and rising opposition to immigration. He’s also got a big crush on the girl. Javed is surrounded by all sorts of negative situations, including harassment from classmates who pick on his Pakistani heritage, and being badgered by his father Malik (Kulvinder Ghir), who insists that Javed retain his traditional values instead of embracing English ones, expecting him to hand over his wages from his part-time job and constantly reminding him of the sacrifice he made in relocating the family to the UK. As the music plays, however (and it certainly does - Springsteen licensed 12 songs to the production, including one that was previously unreleased), and Javed listens to Bruce’s thoughtful lyrics, he finds the strength to fight his battles.
Blinded By The Light is a light-hearted portrayal of teenage angst and Chadha makes good use of Springsteen’s catalogue to illustrate the various dilemmas our hero has to confront. Kalra’s performance is terrific and he is ably supported by the rest of the cast, particularly Ghir as his traditional Pakistani father and Phagura as his school chum. There is also a funny performance by comedian Rob Brydon, who plays a mate’s dad and fellow Springsteen fan. Chadha has successfully captured the inspiration and resulting influence that music can have on people of any age, not just on young ones, and her film has real charm. She has cleverly reinforced the power of ‘The Boss’s’ songs by using his lyrics on screen in a variety of novel ways. The singer’s well-known hits are also augmented by a score from Oscar-winning composer A. R. Rahman. At times, BBTL almost strays into musical theatre territory but ultimately stays this side of the stage.
Overall, Blinded By The Light is an endearing, if somewhat saccharine, coming-of-age story, but it’s one that will have you singing and ‘Dancing in the Dark’. It’s thoroughly entertaining.