“Talk about a dream, try to make it real.”
While not as tough as the sacrifices made by their parents, the life of a first generation immigrant can be a tough one in its own right. Often, the children of immigrants born in the new country their parents traveled to for greater opportunity feel as if they’re stuck with one foot in the country of their ethnic origin and one foot in the country that they’ve now known for the majority of their lives. Finding exactly where their lives fit into the dynamic can take first generation immigrants years of soul searching and experiences to truly come to grips with who they are. The journey can be an arduous one with the impetuses for their realizations being varied and many. Blinded by the Light shares one such journey with us.
Inspired by a true story, Blinded by the Light follows Javed (Viveik Kalra), a British teen of Pakistani descent growing up in 1987 Luton, England. Javed writes poetry in his spare time, as well as song lyrics for his best friend Matt’s (Dean-Charles Chapman) band. Stuck between the racial and economic turmoil of the times and the stern hand of his traditionalist father Malik (Kulvinder Ghir), Javed is trying to find a means of escape and an answer to who he is and where he’s going. When his schoolmate Roops (Aaron Phagura) introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteen, the Boss’ powerful voice allows Javed to find his own and come to terms with his own working-class life.
At the heart of this film is the generational clash and conflict between Javed and his father. The two continually butt heads throughout due to their conflicting views on the world; first generation immigrant versus second, young versus old, westerner versus easterner. Javed wishes to be his own man, pursuing his own dream of being a writer versus living up to his father’s wishes of pursuing work that he knows to be stable and lucrative, fulfilling his dream of his children making it to a degree that makes his sacrifices in immigrating and working in a British factory worthwhile. The dichotomy between father and son is one that is typical of the family dynamic but also contains the intricacies unique to a family of immigrants. While cognizant of his origin culture due to living with his parents, Javed has also become accustomed to the ways of his current environment, giving him a sense of perspective unique to that of his parents. When combined with the typical teenage rebellious spirit, it can provide for some spirited confrontations as we witness in the film. But part of being a teenager is having the ability to dream, to believe that anything is possible before life beats us down into believing otherwise and no matter which culture we are raised under, dreamers will always be with us. Blinded by the Light shows us that dreams and the wish to be better than our circumstances allow transcends things like borders and race.
Aside from its thematic elements, music plays an indelible part in Blinded by the Light both within the plot and the film’s technical aspects. We’re currently in the midst of a renaissance of 70s and 80s rock and this film continues the trend with its treatment of Bruce Springsteen. The importance of his music within Javed’s awakening is imparted upon the audience by director Gurinder Chadha creative display of the lyrics within the frame while Javed listens. The lyrics display on the moonlit door of a nearby garage while the winds swirl around a contemplative Javed, or encircle his head as he stares in the mirror. Putting them onscreen where they can be read helps in driving home their message and affect on Javed.
With their relationship comprising the film’s emotional center, it was important that the chemistry and performances of Viveik Kalra and Kulvinder Ghir rise to the level demanded of them and both actors knock it out of the park. Kalra’s turn as the searching for himself Javed runs the emotional spectrum from joy to anger to sadness and the actor is able to capably encapsulate it all in a convincing manner. Javed’s monologue in the film’s third act explaining his journey and hopes for a better life while still satisfying his dad’s hopes for him is one of the most emotionally gripping scenes of the year and Kalra’s execution during is a large part of the reason why. Ghir is perfect as the stern immigrant father whose strict ways hold an underlying concern for his family and for the journey he himself embarked on. The arc as portrayed by the actor is moving and believable and, in my opinion, worthy of awards consideration. Meera Ganatra also shines as Javed’s mother Noor providing a soft, soothing, caring touch that is the perfect compliment and offset to Ghir’s tough portrayal of fatherhood. Ganatra deftly displays the delicate balancing act a mother would have to pull off in her position of supporting her son’s wish for more freedom of choice, while acknowledging her husbands fears but allaying his concerns without causing conflict.
Although set in an era more than 30 years in the past, Blinded by the Light provides a timeless tale of a recent arrival trying to fit into new surroundings, as evidenced by some of the familiar trials that Javed goes through. His encounters with the National Front in 1980s Britain under a stalwart conservative regime, his father’s struggles as a working man in a crumbling economy, show that the more things change, the more they remain the same. This timelessness gives the film a sense of relevancy and importance that help to power its message and its story, providing a relatability that allows audiences, particularly those with immigrant backgrounds, to connect with the film on a personal level despite how far removed they may personally be from the 1980s. Director Gurinder Chadha uses a cool technique of displaying the lyrics onscreen in various ways to better impart their meaning and help to display why Bruce Springsteen’s music connects with Javed the way it does. The integration of music in the film is pretty well done and should be a major treat for Springsteen fans. While the film is a bit formulaic and therefore loses a bit of uumph that would allow it to stick in your craw a little more, the timeliness of its setting and the enduring relevancy of its story and message make it a worthwhile watch.
Image: Warner Bros.
