Rated: PG
Directed by: Gurinder Chadha O. B. E, Paul Mayeda Berges
Written by: Gurinder Chadha O.B.E, Paul Mayeda Berges,
Based on the book, ‘Greetings from Bury Park (2007)’ written by: Sarfraz Manzoor
Produced by: Gurinder Chadha O.B.E, Jane Barclay, Jamal Daniel
Executive Producer: Paul Mayeda Berges
Starring: Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Hayley Atwell, Aaron Phagura, Nell Williams, David Hayman, Dean Charles Chapman, Tara Divina, Rob Brydon MBE and Jeff Mirza.
‘Tell the world something it needs to hear.’ That’s what Javed’s (Viveik Kalra) English teacher (Hayley Atwell) tells him.
And Javed has plenty to say being a Pakistani growing up in Luten in the 80s.
He writes poems in his diary. He just doesn’t think anyone’s ever going to understand him. Until Roops (Aaron Phagura) lends him two cassette tapes of The Boss himself: Bruce Springsteen.
I walked into, Blinded By The Light thinking there was going to be more comedy; and there’s some funny moments with the 80s style used well like the revelation of a hideous t-shirt described part Princess Diana and part Tina Turner…
But this is 80s England, with Thatcher in the midst of her third term, millions out of jobs and racism rampant.
It’s hard enough being a teenager without seeing some racist bastard pissing through the mail slot of the front door or spitting in your face.
The film’s also about family; the authoritative father, the trying to break away from all the expectations of parents and living in a home that has very different rules and expectations than the other kids in school.
I got reflective. And a little teary, I admit.
I was never exposed to The Boss growing up and never chose to seek out his music. Now, I seem to be coming across him a lot (see, Thunder Road).
The more I come across this guy, the more I realise the effect he’s had on people’s lives.
I grew up in the country. I know what it feels like to be trapped, to feel so weak you want ‘to burn down the town’
And like this expression, Blinded By The Light uses the music and especially the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen to give voice to Javed.
It’s like the music is speaking, just to him. Saying, singing everything he’s feeling so Javed sings the words to the girl he has a crush on (Nell Williams), to the people in his way as he runs with his mate and fellow fan, Roops from the school after they’ve set Springsteen playing over the school sound system, because yes, this is a musical, but it’s a hybrid of a musical because instead of using Springsteen just as a soundtrack, Javed sings Springsteen’s lyrics like a dialogue to say how he’s feeling instead of just, saying how he’s feeling.
So I guess, yeah it’s a musical.
It sounds like it would look stupid (the storm scene and discovery of Dancing in the Dark more like theatre than film), yet Viveik Kalra as Javed is such a sweetie, he gets away with it. And I appreciated the text on screen to show the lyrics to make sure the message was understood by the audience. I admit I didn’t realise Springsteen was so deep:
Blow away the dreams that tear you apart Blow away the dreams that break your heart
Blow away the lies that leave you nothing but lost and brokenhearted
The dogs on Main Street howl
‘Cause they understand
If I could take one moment into my hands Mister I ain’t a boy, no I’m a man
And I believe in a promised land.
I feel like there are a lot of these musical hybrid films around lately and I wasn’t completely convinced about The Boss obsession would make such a difference to a person’s life. That’s my cynicism speaking. Because the film is based on the true story and novel, ‘Greetings from Bury Park’ written by Sarfraz Manzoor.
Springsteen has read the book. After meeting Manzoor he said he loved the book and was happy for the film to be made. Seriously, what a legend.