Being hailed by critics as the feelgood movie of the year, Blinded by the Light is a British comedy-drama by Gurinder Chadha (Bend it like Beckham) inspired by the life of journalist Sarfraz Manzoor and his love of songs by Bruce Springsteen.
Set in the small town in 1987 Thatcher-era Britain, the film tells the coming-of-age story of Javed, a Pakistani Muslim teenager. Amidst the racial and economic turmoil of the times, he writes poetry as a means to escape the intolerance of his hometown and the inflexibility of his traditional father. But when a classmate introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteen, Javed sees parallels to his working-class life in the powerful lyrics. As Javed discovers an outlet for his own pent-up dreams, he also begins to express himself in his own voice.
Registration required for this free event hosted by the City of Waterloo
Printer-friendly version
