Blinded by the Light 2019
I remember seeing previews for this movie and thinking it looked cute, but not anything I needed to see. However, based on some pretty strong reviews, I decided to watch when I had a chance to borrow it on Movies Anywhere using a Screen Pass. The movie tells the story of a young man of Pakistani descent growing up in working class Luton, England in the 1980’s during the Margaret Thatcher era. It was a challenging time and not easy being a foreigner, let alone one who has a strained relationship with his overbearing and stressed out father. He discovers the music of Bruce Springsteen and can relate to the blue collar struggles that The Boss writes about. Meanwhile he starts exploring his own abilities in writing poems, songs, and essays, encouraged by a helpful college teacher. It is a good story based on the memoir of a British journalist who also co-wrote the screenplay. Some of the ground is pretty familiar, though the circumstances at least are pretty unique. I guess I don’t relate to Bruce Springsteen as much as he does, and there is a lot of Springsteen music in the movie. The guy is kind of typical in that he has dreams and wants to get out from under the power of his father, but he is also kind of selfish like a lot of guys that age. It is kind of the typical writer’s story, but it still works well and provides some insight into the life of Pakistani immigrants to England, which wasn’t exactly a promised land (Springsteen reference). The performances are good, though the singing and dancing numbers are a little clunky. It’s a feel good movie and should have the expected result.
Written: 30 Jan 2021