Out of all the films out there to offer, I much prefer a 'feel good' film. Think about it--they're entertaining, inspiring, usually well written and there is typically a great lesson to be learned, not only by certain characters in the film, but to us so we can learn something we either know we need to learn or are surprised by. Such as the case of "Blinded by the Light", this film encumbers those very attributes which makes it worthy of a viewing.
Javed (Viveik Kalra) is a Pakistani teenager who experiences racial and economic turmoil while living in Luton, England in 1987. He writes poetry as a way to escape the intolerance of his hometown and the stubborn views of his traditional father, Malik (Kulvinder Ghir). When a classmate, Roops (Aaron Phagura) introduces him to the music of Bruce 'The Boss' Springsteen, Javed sees parallels between the singer's powerful lyrics and his own working-class environment. Through encouragement of his buddy, Matt (Dean-Charles Chapman), his girlfriend, Eliza (Nell Williams) and his teacher, Ms. Clay (Hayley Atwell), Javed, through Springsteen's melodies, soon inspire him to find his own voice and follow his dreams.
Others to round out the cast are Meera Ganatra as Noor, Javed's mother, Nikita Mehta as Shazia, Rob Brydon as Matt's father, Tara Divina as Yasmeen, Frankie Fox as Colin Hand, a D.J. and Sally Phillips as Mrs. Anderson.
This was directed with inspiration and heart by Gurinder Chadha ("Bhaji on the Beach" '93, "Rich Deceiver" (TV movie) '95, "What's Cooking?" 2000, "Bend It Like Beckham" '02, "Paris, je t'aime" (segment "Quais de Seine") '06, "Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging" '08, It's a Wonderful Afterlife" '10, "Viceroy's House" '17) plus TV, short documentaries and shorts. This film, like "Bend It Like Beckham" is directed in that down-trodden individual which makes good on their perseverance way. She knows how to take these working class people in this film and others and, through their support, community, patience and perseverance makes their dreams come true. And this, like Beckham are stories that are based on true stories which make them even more intriguing. It has that "Slumdog Millionaire" flavor to it where the audience simply wants to stand up and cheer for these characters and this all about the directing. I can't wait to see what she does with her "Pashmina" which is in pre-production. It was wittily written with heart by Paul Mayeda Berges, Chadha and Sarfraz Manzoor, inspired by the words and music of Bruce Springsteen. Again, as with Beckham, this was written with heart and is entertaining at the same time. Even though the premise is a bit predictable, the heart and the element of home and community brings this film to a place where, through tears and humor, it brings the audience to their feet cheering. This was all obvious in the writing. It was tight, concise and cohesive. Since Berges and Chadha have shared a plethora of experience in the same films, this only helps with the continuity.
Why can't we see more films like this at the multiplex, instead of the typical banal sequels, reboots, franchises and toilet humor films out there which are aplenty? Was this film perfect? No, however none of the banal films are either. But this film is certainly one that offers so much for all: humor, tears, redemption, all along with a great message of patience and determination, and we all could use more of these attributes especially in this day and age.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 118mins.
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