Blinded by the Light * * *

        Set in the 1980's a young lad from Pakistani background lives on a housing estate in Luton England. It's the Thatcher years and the area is feeling fairly despondent.  There is not much future.  His family are having trouble accepting that they live in another country with another set of values, and he's not feeling he's part of their world or the world of English kids.

Born in the Ka-Ra-Chi!

         But he likes to write - poetry, lyrics and short stories. He is encouraged by his English teacher.  Then a fellow student turns him on to Bruce Springsteen. All he knows about Bruce is that he is American and he is mostly listened to by older people.  Nevertheless, Springsteen's lyrics hit home and he becomes a Springsteen obsessive and finally finds his own voice.
        It bounces along with many comedic elements.  It also doesn't mind speaking out about the importance of assimilation and the nastiness of racism.   Springsteen's all American lyrics are successfully transposed to Luton England.  Yeah, weird, I know, but it works.
       It's a true story apparently.
       It's a shame that it is tucked away in the art-house cinemas.  I think it could find a much wider audience especially among young people of Pakistani, Indian background.  It should be in the outer suburb multiplexes.