“Blinded by The Light” was a wonderful way for the summer of 2019 to end. This Gurinder Chadha (“Viceroy’s House”) directed homage to the artistry of “The Boss” is everything it needed to be.

During an influx of music-related films like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Rocketman” and “Yesterday;” “Blinded by The Light” is the first of the four to consistently hit the emotional home runs it intended. Bruce Springsteen is one of the few indescribable artists that has a complex range of songs in his diverse catalogue. His four-hour live shows are a spectacle filled with energy, social commentaries and intense jams led by the legendary E-Street Band.

Screenwriters Sarfraz Manzoor, Paul Mayeda Berges (“Viceroy’s House”) and Chadha bring us a story about an Indian teen named Javed (Viveik Kalra, “Voyagers”) living in England during the late 1980s. Javed is mainly inspired by Manzoor’s real-life upbringing as a Pakistani immigrant in London during a time of unrest. Finding meaning in life is a struggle that everyone undoubtedly goes through and Javed’s ambitions to become a writer are outweighed by his father’s old school outlook on individual purpose.  

Even though Springsteen had already been a household name to many by 1987, Javed’s late discovery opens a door to a world where he can be free to explore his hopes and dreams. Through a series of music sequences with Bruce’s powerful words dominating the screen, the former outcast now begins living a new way with the songs as his guide. Confidence becomes a key aspect of his life as his poems are assisted by his English instructor Ms. Clay (Hayley Atwell, “Avengers: Endgame”), eventually finding a girlfriend (Nell Williams, “London Town”) and becoming closer with his sister.

Just like Springsteen’s central themes in his music, “Blinded by The Light” is the story of finding ways to become who you are meant to be.  Even if you feel stuck within a place that you feel is cursed, do your best to find “The Promised Land.”

Another quality about this movie that is great is its relevance to today. Hypothetically, if someone were to discover the music of lyrical masterminds like Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Neil Young in the current climate; their messages may resonate in a profound way with modern listeners. 

Racial tensions are at the forefront of this film between some hostile native Britains and the unfortunate Pakistanis who are just trying to survive day-to-day. One of the best musical sequences involves the culmination of a protest and a significant moment in Javed’s family with the haunting echoes of “Jungleland” illuminating the background.

Even though Springsteen sometimes turns off a certain section of the public with his political views, he is the embodiment of American pride intertwined with recognizing our faults. Javed’s struggles with his dad perfectly correlate to Bruce’s messages. He loves his father but also realizes that he must give him a reality check.

“Blinded by The Light” fully gives in to the standard tropes of similar coming of age stories with a gleaming sense of pride. Not everything about this film is original, but it is done in a unique and sentimental way.

Image from Warner Brothers via YouTube