{"id":4626,"date":"2019-08-22T14:39:48","date_gmt":"2019-08-22T21:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/?p=4626"},"modified":"2019-08-23T10:25:28","modified_gmt":"2019-08-23T17:25:28","slug":"blinded-by-the-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/2019\/blinded-by-the-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Blinded by the Light * Inspirational Dramatic Comedy With Excellent Performances And Lively Script"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.poster.jpg?resize=152%2C225&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4637\" width=\"152\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.poster.jpg?resize=202%2C300&amp;ssl=1 202w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.poster.jpg?w=674&amp;ssl=1 674w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 152px) 100vw, 152px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1987, during the austere days of Margaret Thatcher&#8217;s\nBritain,\na teenager learns to live life, understand his family, and find his own voice\nthrough the music of Bruce Springsteen. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Arjun N. comments,\n\u201c<em>Blinded\nby the Light <\/em>is a very inspirational comedy-drama based on the accounts of real-life\nwriter Sarfraz Manzoor. It is buoyed by excellent performances and a lively script.\nThe movie truly has something for everyone.\u201d Ivey H. adds, \u201c<em>Blinded by the\nLight<\/em> is a very interesting film about a boy wanting to become a\nwriter.&nbsp; He is introduced to a famous American singer and becomes\ninspired. It is a humorous film, but does touch on serious issues of family as\nwell as cultural and economical struggles.\u201d Morgan B. wraps it up with, \u201cI love\nhow the people who made this film brought back a bit of the past by making it take\nplace in the 1980s. That makes it even more fun to watch, because we get to see\nthings such as huge phones record players, cassette tapes and so much more.\nThis makes it feel more realistic and fun to watch.\u201d See their full reviews\nbelow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Blinded by the Light<br>By Arjun N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AJMtZP-AKfM?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"color:#070707\" class=\"has-text-color\"><em>Blinded by the Light <\/em>is a very inspirational comedy-drama based on the\naccounts of real-life writer Sarfraz Manzoor. It is buoyed by excellent\nperformances and a lively script. The movie truly has something for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.c..png?resize=225%2C150&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4634\" width=\"225\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.c..png?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.c..png?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.c..png?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"color:#070707\" class=\"has-text-color\">The film follows music fanatic and writer Javed (Viveik Kalra), who after discovering the back catalogue of Bruce Springsteen or \u201cthe Boss,\u201d is inspired by lyrics that feel all too familiar to the aspirational teenager. Wanting to escape his racist hometown and the rules of his traditional Pakistani family, Javed finds himself caught between two worlds and must discover if he is born to run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Viveik Kalra, as\nJaved, is phenomenal at making his character relatable and inspiring. Kalra,\nlike Himesh Patel from <em>Yesterday<\/em>, debuts with charm as well. Javed is\nhilarious, but also takes the surroundings of Thatcher-era Britain\nseriously. He is a role model for all. Aaron Phagura, as Rhoops, is also a\nstandout as his character\u2019s similar situation to Javed\u2019s adds layers to their\nidentity complexes. Hayley Atwell, as Ms. Clay, is an English teacher who\ninspires Javed to write. I quite enjoyed her inclusion as she fits the role\nwell. Kulvinder Ghir, as Malik, also impresses as Javed\u2019s dad. His character\ncan be too stereotypical of ethnic ways, but this feels intentional as it\nsatirizes both his culture and English culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.b..png?resize=225%2C140&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4635\" width=\"225\" height=\"140\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.b..png?resize=300%2C187&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.b..png?resize=768%2C478&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.b..png?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Gurinder Chadha directs with a nice blend of comedy and drama. He brings\nlife to Manzoor\u2019s memoirs and I never felt any awkward total shifts. Some\nediting choices also bring great style. But, substance is at the main focus\nhere as Chadha\u2019s and Paul Mayeda Berge\u2019s script is smartly witty. My favorite\nscene is Javed\u2019s final speech to the school. Kalra\u2019s performance is award-worthy\nand the script boasts great messages in the movie\u2019s themes of pursuing dreams.\nMy only flaw is that the second act sometimes drags with a romantic subplot\nthat spins its wheels quickly, despite Nell Williams\u2019 impressive performance as\nNell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The message of this film is about pursuing your dream, and also about remembering\nyour family and always staying in touch. I give this film 4.5 out of 5 stars\nand recommend it for ages 8 to 18 as some language and racist behavior could be\ninappropriate for younger audience. The movie releases in theaters on August 16,\n2019, so check it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Blinded by the Light <br>\nBy Ivey H., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 13<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9-E5oVT3cXg?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Blinded by the Light<\/em> is a very interesting film about a boy wanting to become a\nwriter.&nbsp; He is introduced to a famous American singer and becomes\ninspired. It is a humorous film, but does touch on serious issues of family as\nwell as cultural and economical struggles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.i..png?resize=225%2C150&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4628\" width=\"225\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.i..png?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.i..png?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.i..png?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Viveik Kalra plays his character Javed extremely well. Javed\nlacks confidence and struggles dealing with his father and his culture. He\ndoesn\u2019t feel like he fits in anywhere. You get the feeling he is held back by\nthis. Along the way, people in his life believe in him and encourage him to go\nfor his dreams.&nbsp; His friend introduces him to Bruce Springsteen\u2019s music,\nwhich inspires him. Then he transforms his look and gains more confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His parents do not support his dream of becoming a writer.&nbsp; The parents are excellent in this movie. His father is played by Kulvinder Ghir and his mother is played by Meera Ganatra. The father is hilarious and thinks that if an American is good at something, then they are Jewish. The whole family is dealing with money problems. I have to mention that his best friend, Matt is played by Dean-Charles Chapman who is fantastic in this role. He deals with his own issues in a different way.&nbsp; They have a true friendship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.g..png?resize=225%2C151&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4630\" width=\"225\" height=\"151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.g..png?resize=300%2C201&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.g..png?resize=768%2C515&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.g..png?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>My favorite part about Matt is his crazy 80s style hair. I love the costumes, music and dancing. It really takes you to another era. The wigs and the old jogging suits that they wear made me laugh! The costumes are bright for the 80s and the Pakistani outfits suit the family.&nbsp; One of the funny parts that I like most is when the car won\u2019t start and, instead of the dad pushing the car, he makes the entire family push it. Another funny part is when Javed celebrates his birthday and, to treat him like an adult, he is given pants as his gift. The movie exposes you to more serious matters of racism and what other cultures go through. It has very good timing and&nbsp;is a little quirky which I like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The director Gurinder Chadha really delivers with this film. His timing and costumes are perfect. I didn&#8217;t really know who Bruce Springsteen was before, but I really like his music now. Thanks to <em>Blinded by the Light<\/em>, I am now a fan of&nbsp;this legendary musician. &nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>I give this film 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages xx to xx. It opens in theaters August 16, 2019. Look for it and give it a chance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Blinded by the Light<br> By Morgan B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aH7_Vun845M?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone get ready for a new adventure about a man and his relationship\nwith a great artist who we all know as Bruce Springsteen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelightd..png?resize=225%2C95&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4633\" width=\"225\" height=\"95\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelightd..png?resize=300%2C126&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelightd..png?resize=768%2C322&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelightd..png?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>My favorite character is Javed (Viveik Kalra), because he is someone that\nmany people can relate to. He is a person dealing with many issues with his\nfamily, because they are very religious people who think that writing poems is\nwrong and that listening to nontraditional music is unheard of. On top of that,\nhe is trying his best to become his own person and, with everyone on his back,\nit can be a bit hard for a young college student to do that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I love how the people who made this film brought back a bit of the past by\nmaking it take place in the 1980s. That makes it even more fun to watch,\nbecause we get to see things such as huge phones record players, cassette tapes\nand so much more. This makes it feel more realistic and fun to watch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The music is so good. I love how it all comes together to make a movie\nthat sounds and looks so incredible. At times it not only looks like a film,\nbut also a music video, all in one. This is a masterpiece in my mind and I\ngreatly appreciate it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.j..png?resize=225%2C95&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4627\" width=\"225\" height=\"95\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.j..png?resize=300%2C126&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.j..png?resize=768%2C322&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/blindedbythelight.j..png?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>I can\u2019t wait to get the soundtrack of this film. The music is fun and\nfriendly and has a deep meaning, which is something I admire. All the music is by\nBruce Springsteen and now that I have heard some of his greatest hits I love\nhim and his artwork. Can\u2019t wait to get the soundtrack of this movie. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This one-of-a-kind true story is very inspirational as well as fun and\nlighthearted. It has a lot of meaning with its morals and values about following\nyour dreams no matter what anyone tells you, have fun with your friends and\nfamily while you still can, and it\u2019s okay to grow apart from your family and\ntheir values. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I recommend <em>Blinded by the Light <\/em>for\nages 13 to 18. I think that adults will like this film as well even if they\naren\u2019t Bruce Springsteen fans. I give <em>Blinded\nby the Light <\/em>5 out of 5 stars. &nbsp;Make\nsure to look for <em>Blinded by the Light <\/em>at\na theater near you when it opens August\n16, 2019 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 1987, during the austere days of Margaret Thatcher&#8217;s Britain, a teenager learns to live life, understand his family, and find his own voice through the music of Bruce Springsteen. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Arjun N. comments, \u201cBlinded by the Light is a very inspirational comedy-drama based on the accounts of real-life writer Sarfraz Manzoor. It is buoyed by excellent performances and a lively script. The movie truly has something for everyone.\u201d Ivey H. adds, \u201cBlinded by the Light is a very interesting film about a boy wanting to become a writer.  He is introduced to a famous American singer and becomes inspired. It is a humorous film, but does touch on serious issues of family as well as cultural and economical struggles.\u201d Morgan B. wraps it up with, \u201cI love how the people who made this film brought back a bit of the past by making it take place in the 1980s. That makes it even more fun to watch, because we get to see things such as huge phones record players, cassette tapes and so much more. This makes it feel more realistic and fun to watch.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[15],"tags":[472,464,473,470,466,469,465,471,474,467,475,468],"class_list":["post-4626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-feature-film-reviews","tag-bruce-springsteen","tag-comedy","tag-dean-charles-chapman","tag-drama","tag-gurinder-chadha","tag-kulvinder-ghir","tag-meera-ganatra","tag-music","tag-pakistani","tag-paul-mayeda-berges","tag-sarfraz-manzoor","tag-viveik-kalra"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paS5I2-1cC","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4626"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4626\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4645,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4626\/revisions\/4645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}