Even though this is a film about the impact of Bruce Springsteen’s early music on one particular and seemingly unlikely fan and his family, Blinded by the Light will be a great experience whether you’re a long-time fan of the Boss or have never before heard his poetic music. It’s a film about the power of friendship (and the right songs at the right time) in this case, Thatcher-era Great Britain with right wing xenophobia on the rise. You will find the film to be both inspiring and life-affirming, much like Springsteen’s songs. And yes, it’s always the right time to listen to a Springsteen tune or anthem or poem/ Set in the late eighties and based on a true story as interpreted by the director of Bend It Like Beckham, Blinded by the Light introduces us to a creative young man of Pakistani descent who is torn between his dreams and his family, while at the same time suffering prejudice. Javed’s passion for music and writing is set alight by the songs of the working-class poet, whose lyrics about down-and-out towns feel all too familiar, but also contain images and words that give him hope and strength. The film has excellent art direction, and features several delightful musical segments that recall the early days of MTV. It also has a great cast that includes a very funny Rob Brydon of The Trip films as the aging hippie father of Javed’s childhood best friend. You might be thinking you’ve seen this plot before, but as Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times says, “We’ve never seen it set to the sounds of the Boss, and we’ve never seen it from the point of view of this particular terrific kid and his family.” 1:54. Rated PG-13 for thematic material and language, including ethnic slurs.