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Welcome to Kicking the Seat!

Ian Simmons launched Kicking the Seat in 2009, one week after seeing Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia. His wife proposed blogging as a healthier outlet for his anger than red-faced, twenty-minute tirades (Ian is no longer allowed to drive home from the movies).

The Kicking the Seat Podcast followed three years later and, despite its “undiscovered gem” status, Ian thoroughly enjoys hosting film critic discussions, creating themed shows, and interviewing such luminaries as Gaspar NoéRachel BrosnahanAmy Seimetz, and Richard Dreyfuss.

Ian is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. He also has a family, a day job, and conflicted feelings about referring to himself in the third person.

Ep438: Brilliant Disguise w/ VIVEIK KALRA!

Today, The Kicking the Seat Podcast welcomes back Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com for a look at one of the year's very best films, Gurinder Chadha's Blinded by the Light. The film centers on a teen named Javed (Viveik Kalra) living in South East London during the 1980s.

He struggles with his traditional Pakistani family while having no success with girls and trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life. When a classmate slips him a Bruce Springsteen tape, Javed's life turns upside down. Blinded by the Light is a funny, uplifting, and emotional coming-of-age story that might just save this sorry, sorry summer.

Ian and Nick get into the film's highs and lows, and talk about the vast gulf between Chadha's "based on a true story" adaptation and author Sarfraz Manzoor's equally excellent autobiography, Greetings from Bury Park, which inspired the film.

But before this spoilerific chat, you can enjoy Ian's interview with star Viveik Kalra, conducted back in May right before the brilliant young actor appeared at the Music Box Theatre for the Chicago Critics Festival!

Episode 438 is needs a love reaction. C'mon, now, baby, give it just one look!

Show Guide:

Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14

Intro: 0:14 - 2:14

Viveik Kalra Interview:2:14 - 25:22

Intro Ct'd: 25:22 - 27:16

Blinded by the Light Trailer: 27:16 - 29:39

Blinded by the Light Discussion: 29:39 - 1:08:51

Outro Music: 1:08:51 - 1:09:25

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Ep439: Dawn of the NIGHTINGALE w/ Aisling Franciosi!

Ep437: Life, The Universe, and Everything Movies