“Blinded by the Light”, an upcoming 1980s period drama featuring the music of Bruce Springsteen, is enjoying some positive buzz from early reviewers.
Set in the town of Luton in the U.K. in 1987, the movie follows Javed, the 16-year-old son of Pakistani immigrants, who discovers the music of Springsteen amid the political and economic turmoil of the Thatcherite era.
Inspired by the life of journalist Sarfraz Manzoor and his love of songs by the legendary rock star, the coming-of-age tale revolves around the British-Pakistani Muslim teenager’s powerful connection to the songs’ lyrics.
Manzoor co-wrote the script with Paul Mayeda Berges and the film’s director Gurinder Chadha, based on his acclaimed memoir “Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N’ Roll.”
Gurinder Chadha is known for directing “Bend It Like Beckham”, which many have regarded as what made Keira Knightley’s career.
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Chadha pointed out in a recent interview with Rolling Stone that while the film is made as an obvious love letter to Springsteen, it also vividly portrays the immigrant experience during a particularly tumultuous political era. Challenges often faced by immigrants such as the loss of jobs and the rise of white nationalist factions are effectively woven into the film.
The film, which stars Hayley Atwell, Rob Brydon, Dean-Charles Chapman, Jonno Davies, Meera Ganatra, Kulvinder Ghir, Aaron Phagura, Sally Phillips, Nell Williams, and Viveik Kalra as Jared, premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, generating positive reviews from critics. It currently holds an approval rating of 91% based on 44 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film is set to be released in the United Kingdom on Friday, August 9 by Entertainment One, while the film will premiere a week later in the United States on August 16 by Warner Bros and New Line Cinema.
Featured image via YouTube / Warner Bros. Pictures
