Beyond the Clouds

"Ultimately Beyond the Clouds is a mixed bag.  It is likely to be a footnote in Majidi's rich filmography. But the film is worth seeing as an intriguing experiment. I'm going with three stars."

"Ultimately the film offers comfort in the familiar…for those that seek it. It's Majid Majidi-lite at best; a bittersweet, inoffensive drama that runs, but never flies. I'm going with a generous three out of five."

"The bright-eyed Ishaan Khatter has something, a flicker in his eyes, and gets some zest into his part. Malavika Mohanan is great on the eyes, but clueless in how to fill her part."

"Beyond the Clouds should be watched to experience how a master storyteller like Majidi can redeem Hindi cinema from drudgery."

"Adapting the  higher scales  from the musical notes, Majid Majidi's symphony on the underbelly of Mumbai plays out  at  an impossibly shrill  pitch without  losing  the core cadence. The director is not alone in  pursuing that pitch-perfect shrillness. Ishaan Khattar knows how that is  done."

"Majid Majidi has always conveyed the truth about what's happening in society through his films. He takes a harsh look at the lives of the common people and strives to find beauty beneath the grime."

"Beyond the Clouds is a must watch for Ishaan Khatter's debut act and Majidi's unique take on the human spirit. It has some beautiful moments that will catch you by surprise. Don't miss this one!"

"Majidi's subject matter might seem to be repetitive, but the famed director's take on redemption is fleshed out by strong performances to make 'Beyond the Clouds' another notable entry in his filmography."

"All said and done, this is a visual representation of alloyed emotions backed by memorable performances of Ishaan Khatter and Malavika Mohanan. Watch this to realise how you can put your life to a better use."

"Overall, by the end, Beyond the Clouds seems like a forced narrative that tells the tale of the unfortunate siblings who are trying to coexist within their circumstances."

"'Beyond the Clouds' is definitely worth a watch. If nothing else, Ishaan Khatter's character will make you want to believe in goodness and humanity."

"It takes a Majidi to rise above the plot and offer audiences hope when things look south. Even here, he's determined to make it stick. It may not be a deep, immersive, dislocating experience one usually has when introduced to unwavering spirits and personal narratives that his cinema has come to be known for. But it's surely reminiscent of his previous work and sparkles up an appetite to revisit them."

"In a nutshell, Beyond The Clouds may not count among Majid Majidi's best works but it has got enough meat to chew upon. This time, his social criticism in the film doesn't exactly reaches its peak. Still it grabs your attention with Ishaan Khatter's fresh talent, Anil Mehta's captivating visuals and the backdrop of 'aamchi Mumbai'."

"Watch Beyond the Clouds for Ishaan, watch it for Sharada, and watch it for those flamingos and Chhotu's little rat."

"Beyond The Clouds isn't a spectacular film and is quite flawed with its occasional underwhelming narrative and storytelling. Yet, there are moments that do leave you with a smile, and at some points, does actually make you think that we can always go beyond the clouds."

"An energetic and physically immersed performance compensates partially for an absence of tenor. Mohanan too cannot overcome her rawness and one wonders if this is a fallout of the director's inability to breach the language barrier. Together their effort might be sincere but the effect of a lack of cohesion eschews the very emotional gravitas Beyond the Clouds works so hard to achieve."

"Alternating between brat and boy, deception and decency, Ishaan Khatter speaks with a passion that will be heard Beyond the Clouds..."

"BEYOND THE CLOUDS is a nice, touching tale that works despite the minuses. At the box office however, its chances are bleak due to its niche appeal."

"BTC is certainly not a masterpiece of Majid Majidi. It is just another regular story of orphan siblings and their problematic lives. Avoid the pace and plot, the film is high on emotions."

"Despite excellent symbols and good performances in patches, Beyond The Clouds remains something we have seen and had expected. The uniqueness of the film hardly crosses the crowded bylanes. Majid Majidi's foreign eyes see what all of them see."

"Majid Majidi comes to India and falls for the poverty is beautiful trap. After that, he simply rolls from one cliche to another and another until you just shake your head in despair. Ishan Khattar who makes his debut shows flashes of talent and is let down by a 70s style poverty porn. And the other star of the film is the city itself. But that just isn't enough to make you want to spend multiplex money."

"...a beautifully shot and beautifully made human drama with some sterling performances. But it has limited appeal at the box-office because of the way in which it has been treated. Its difficult English title and lack of recognisable faces will further restrict its commercial chances. The film will do well in select high-end multiplexes of a few cities only. It will, however, win a lot of critical acclaim."

"But cinema is not just about a story, and Majidi doesn't depend on characters alone. He uses the city, its symbols and turns everyday things into tropes – curtains that become screens, linen that screens violence, walls that keeps memories etched, pigeons who make your home theirs … they create a resonance throughout the movie. That's what holds Beyond the Clouds together and stays with you beyond the theatre."

"The film just doesn't manage to throb with the authenticity of experience. It feels like an artificial world – virtuous but curiously inert. The depiction of violence, sex and trafficking is oblique, bashful and old-worldly. As is the forgiveness and redemption offered for all the trespasses — everything is well as long as the conscience and compassion is alive and kicking."

"Despite strong performances, Iranian director Majid Majidi's first Indian movie is barely convincing."