Beyond the Clouds
2018 · Directed by Majid Majidi
Original language: Hindi
- family
- drama
The story
A hedonistic teenager in Mumbai is busted for dealing drugs and goes to his estranged sister for help, but complications land her in jail.
What it’s like
Grey monsoon light, rain-slick streets and crowded Mumbai lanes give this its look, with the city's grime and noise pressing close to the frame. The camera stays near its people, often at shoulder height, and the palette shifts from washed-out slum interiors to the brighter, busier colours of the wider city. The score lifts and settles with the emotional weather rather than driving it. The mood is melancholy and restless, with a lingering hope underneath, and it suits a rainy afternoon or a late evening when you want something earnest and grounded. Its pace is unhurried, letting scenes breathe between tense confrontations. A wayward young man and the sister he has long been estranged from slowly confront what they owe each other, and the gradual thaw between them carries the emotional weight. Violence and crime appear in the story, including a rough, uneasy prison setting and some physical confrontations, but these are brief and not lingered on. It is a sombre film with a warm core, best for viewers who appreciate family drama, social realism and the quiet pull of reconciliation.
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