"Blinded by the Light" celebrates the power of music, awakening the soul of an aspiring teenage Pakistani writer. Viveik Kalra makes a memorable debut as a kid, coming of age. This mix of music and emotion merits 3½ Stars.
An aspiring writer deals with bullies, family pressure and the pain of trying to fit in a new land in "Blinded by the Light." Newcomer Viveik Kalra (as Javed) projects the right amount of passion and confusion, trying to find his way in a traditional working class Muslim family, headed by a stern father. Coming-of-age stories have provided the plot for dozens of films. This one catches fire, when Javed discovers Bruce Springsteen. The lyrics speak to him even though his friends consider Bruce outdated. Director Gurinder Chadha, best known for "Bend it Like Beckham" visualizes Springsteen's lyrics and music in a series of thrilling montages. "Blinded by the Light" adapts Sarfraz Manzoor's memoir "Greetings from Bury Park" into a heartwarming, believable story. You don't even have to love Springsteen to get a lift from "Blinded by the Light." 3½ stars.
