In Luton in 1987, young Pakistani boy Javed (Viveik Kalra) has his world transformed when he discovers the music of Bruce Springsteen. I really enjoyed how this film started. Director Gurinder Chadha evokes the specifics of the period really well. The general desperation felt by so many people towards the end of Margaret Thatcher’s cold-hearted stint as Prime Minister. Mass unemployment and racial tensions contrast with the bubblegum pop that dominates the charts.
In fact as the film progresses, the scenes concentrating on that aspect of the story work best. The highlight being a National Front march clashing with Asian wedding guests, where Javed’s father Malik (the excellent Kulvinder Ghir) is attacked. What works less well is Javed’s increasing obsession with Bruce Springsteen once a school friend Roops (Aaron Phagura) lends him some cassettes.
Springsteen is one of those artists I have always admired, but never felt the need to buy any of his records. To really appreciate Blinded by the Light, you need to be a big fan of his music. The scenes of Javed being enraptured by the lyrics as they flash up on screen didn’t work for me, and there a few sequences involving dancing or running through the streets to the music that are woeful. Not only do they clash horribly with the gritty realism elsewhere in the film but are also extremely cringe worthy. As are the constant quoting of lyrics by Javed and Roops.
The transformation of Javed from a geeky, awkward boy to a ‘cooler’ kid who ends up with the most attractive girl at school, Eliza doesn’t really convince either. Nell Williams who plays Eliza was also in the similarly themed but better London Town. As in that film, she is really good and her character deserved more screen time. There is a particularly delicious scene as she takes Javed back to meet her parents and I could have done with more content like that. I definitely could have done without a horribly green screened trip to America that added nothing to the story.
Ultimately, a frustrating mixed bag.
Rating: 5.5 our of 10