Recommendation: 4/5 Stars, SHOWTIME
Plot: “In England in 1987, a teenager from an Asian family learns to live his life, understand his family and find his own voice through the music of American rock star, Bruce Springsteen.” -IMDB
Review: The art we consume influences us more than we know. It leaves its most recognizable mark when we are teenagers. At this age, it finds us trying to make sense of the world and our place in it. The music we listen to can act as a soundtrack to these struggles. By doing so, it can become intensely personal and more meaningful than we can comprehend. In “Blinded by the Light,” we meet an immigrant boy in 1980’s England trying to define his life in a foreign world. Wanting something bigger and better for himself beyond the expectations of his family, he is trying to break free. In his hour of need, he is turned onto the music of Bruce Springsteen; something which is all too familiar to me.
Javed (Viveik Kalra) is a writer living in Thatcher’s England which mirrors the America of today with its growing xenophobia, racism and economic blame falling on the doorsteps of immigrants. Every member of his family must contribute in order to make ends meet, but Javed wishes for more than a paycheck. He is an artist. He must express himself. He must break free from the shackles of expectations and chase his dreams. To sum up this impossible amount of courage, he needs some inspiration which comes in the form of a Bruce Springsteen cassette.
The impact is almost immediate. Javed is transformed. Here, this movie becomes more musical than film. At one point, I became convinced this might make a great Broadway play. As the words of the Boss take over the screen, we watch our lead character wrestle with identity and pride. As an audience member, you know he is on a crash course with his parents. They will be disappointed in the life he has chosen. We are left to guess the fallout from such a monumental choice to chase your dreams.
In the end, “Blind by the Light” is a film about being yourself and the love of your family. In its message, we find how desperately our parents wish for us and how hard we can be on them. Of course, this separation and testing of their will is a natural part of growing up; it prepares us for the real world. Nature sure doesn’t make it easy though. For these lessons and much more, I recommend you see this film. It is the feel-good picture we all deserve right now.
Best,
-Nathan
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