The Clay Bird
Milestone Film & Video | Release Date: April 30, 2004 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
75
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews
Positive:
13
Mixed:
1
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
San Francisco ChronicleJonathan Curiel
A small gem. Read full review
100
Boston GlobeTy Burr
Unfolds with the serenity of a fable but underneath it draws intelligent, deeply troubled connections between the personal, political, and spiritual. Read full review
90
The New York TimesA.O. Scott
Easily one of the finest pictures of 2003 or any other year. Read full review
75
New York PostV.A. Musetto
The intolerance and inflexibility that marked the Taliban's brutal rule takes a solid hit in this lovely import from Bangladesh. Read full review
75
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
From folk festivals to political rallies, Masud never overlooks the cultural and emotional elements of a country at a crossroads. Read full review
75
Miami HeraldMarta Barber
For all its tumult, The Clay Bird mostly concentrates on its likable characters, all acted with the kind of understatement that makes a good film better. Read full review
75
Philadelphia InquirerHoward Shapiro
It has a quiet thoughtfulness that never comes close to being draggy, and a wisdom that is anything but obtuse. It's a film of many themes. Read full review
75
Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean Axmaker
The earthy imagery is delicate while the drama is oddly elliptical, creating a lovely film of storybook images and parables. It's both obvious and elusive and, historical specifics aside, almost timeless. Read full review
70
VarietyDavid Rooney
Accomplished, emotionally involving film. Read full review
70
Village VoiceElliott Stein
The film's critique of Islam is offered without rancor, and it's evident that Masud loves all his characters, whatever their viewpoints. Read full review
70
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
The film draws careful parallels between orthodoxies and in his own quiet way, Masud, a devout Muslim, level his critique at repressive political regimes and religious doctrines, and those who dangerously confuse one with the other. Read full review
70
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
The power of this quiet little film lies in the lyricism of its images of life on Bangladesh's waterways and in its towns...and in the naturalistic performances from its cast of mostly nonprofessional actors. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterFrank Scheck
Ultimately stronger on characterization and atmosphere than narrative. But its portrait of a society torn apart by, among other things, religious fundamentalism, is all too currently resonant. Read full review
50
Washington PostMichael O'Sullivan
Strikes several beautiful and lingering chords about the human condition, but the notes of the music ultimately never come together to form a coherent song. Read full review
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