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The Clay Bird

Play trailer Poster for The Clay Bird 2003 1h 38m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 27 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
When Bangladeshi father Kazi (Jayanto Chattopadhyay) becomes a conservative Muslim, he opts to send his son, Anu (Nurul Islam Bablu), to an Islamic school in order to shelter him from the worldly influences of the 1960s. Meanwhile, Anu's thoughtful mother, Ayesha (Rokeya Prachy), who isn't inclined toward zealotry, handles the changes in stride. As the country heads into turmoil, the rigid beliefs that Kazi adheres to and his son tries to understand may have a lasting impact on the family.
The Clay Bird

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The Clay Bird takes a tenderly observed look at one family's experiences -- and offers subtly impactful observations about Bangladeshi history in the bargain.

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Critics Reviews

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Tom Keogh Seattle Times 08/20/2004
3/4
Has a kind of twofold eloquence. Go to Full Review
Ty Burr Boston Globe 07/30/2004
4/4
It's a beautifully simple portrait of a country in ferment and a family struggling to define its soul. Go to Full Review
Lisa Kennedy Denver Post 07/16/2004
3/4
With compassionate restraint, Masud challenges the intimate link of religious fundamentalism to national power. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 09/01/2006
A-
... done with conviction for the long-suffering people of Bangladesh. Go to Full Review
Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 12/31/2004
A
...it has about it the resonance of truth as well as a gentle equanimity Go to Full Review
Chris Hewitt St. Paul Pioneer Press 08/26/2004
2/4
Clay Bird is beautifully photographed, and the central story is compelling but, too often, the characters feel like stick figures being manipulated to prove the movie's valid, but obvious, point. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Xian C @Filmclass Apr 24 Not very accessible for a western viewer. It felt like a view of backward religiosity that ends badly for adherents. Same as it ever was. See more 07/07/2022 One of the best Bangladeshi movies. See more 07/11/2020 Classic in Bengali film history. See more 11/30/2012 It's good to see indigenous Bangladeshi cinema that tells a largely straight story. This has some performance interwoven, but is mainly the tale of a small boy sent to a madrassa school, told against a highly charged political and historical backdrop. Masud, the director, is a Muslim in a Muslim society, and clearly has little time for extreme orthodox observance. His implicit critique of his own society, produced for a home audience is powerful and effective. See more 10/14/2012 Does exceptionally well portraying the struggle of one boy in understand his father's religious devotion which ultimately brings sadness to his family. See more 05/24/2011 The Clay Bird, an examination of Islam as seen through a child's eyes in the midst of Bangladesh's violent formation, is too muddled to be truly effective. It's hard to follow the historical thrust of the story, and the various cultures, religions, and political movements aren't clearly delineated for outsiders. It's hard to imagine really appreciating the movie without being deeply invested in Bengali history. Still, the film features some touching moments, great performances from its young actors, and features some interesting insight that isn't fleshed-out or balanced enough to warrant much deliberation, but still provides a glimpse of a different, sometimes disturbing, way of life. See more Read all reviews
The Clay Bird

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Movie Info

Synopsis When Bangladeshi father Kazi (Jayanto Chattopadhyay) becomes a conservative Muslim, he opts to send his son, Anu (Nurul Islam Bablu), to an Islamic school in order to shelter him from the worldly influences of the 1960s. Meanwhile, Anu's thoughtful mother, Ayesha (Rokeya Prachy), who isn't inclined toward zealotry, handles the changes in stride. As the country heads into turmoil, the rigid beliefs that Kazi adheres to and his son tries to understand may have a lasting impact on the family.
Director
Tareque Masud
Producer
Catherine Masud, Marin Karmitz
Screenwriter
Tareque Masud, Catherine Masud
Distributor
New Yorker Video
Production Co
New Line Cinema
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Bangla
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 11, 2003, Original
Runtime
1h 38m