Blinded By The Light

Ahh, glory days.

When you’re a teen, music can mean everything.

In this coming-of-age 1980’s tale, Pakistani British teen Javed (Viveik Kalra) receives a life changing jolt when classmate Roops (Aaron Phagura) gives him two Bruce Springsteen cassettes.

Set against the backstreets of the economic downturn of Thatcher’s Britain and the rise of the neo-Nazi National Front, Blinded makes an easy case for why Jared would be looking for an escape from his hometown, and why he would find obsessive inspiration in lyrics from the Boss. The story is based on the life of Greetings from Bury Park author Sarfraz Manzoor, who wrote about how music transcends religion and race. But this is not a heavy film. Not at all.

Director Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) unabashedly presents his story as feel-good comedy, and an earnest ode to the power of music. The throwback music sequences in Blinded border on cornball, but most viewers will ultimately surrender to its infectious charm. Chadha, while screening the film for The Asian Film Festival of Dallas, said it best when she told the audience “This is not a film for cynics.”

To be fair, a film about a boy in the eighties who mysteriously relates to New Jersey’s Springsteen...and a film that wowed Sundance...I was always going to like. But I have no worry recommending a joy-filled film in a time where we need just that.

In a nutshell: It's an anthem to the importance of music, hopes and dreams in our youth (and beyond), and an infectious comedy that will make you want to dance in the dark.

Award potential: Chadha, who introduced the world to Kiera Knightly, has found screen- busting stars in both Kalra and Phagura. Along with Yesterday, this should be 2019’s front runner for Golden Globe’s Best Comedy category, and an interesting battle of the band movies.

"I'll Stand By You Always," a previously unreleased Springsteen song, will not qualify for most Best Song awards as it was not written specifically for this film.
 
The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.