Critical response International Simon Abrams of
Roger Ebert stated: "Majidi and Kashani's shared vision feels incomplete, as if they were moments away from realizing how to temper their story's condescending, but well-meaning perspective, but never got around to doing it." Critic
Glenn Kenny of
The New York Times noted that Majidi has a terrific talent for staging and shooting. However, he added that his story instincts are more run of the mill. Critic Guy Lodge based at
Variety, stated: "Majidi's young leads lack finesse, but not emotive conviction, which suits the film's purposes just fine; egged along by that score, it's mostly all-caps protest cinema, getting its worthwhile message unambiguously across." Deborah Young who writes for
The Hollywood Reporter, noted: "
Beyond the Clouds is more openly dramatic, with its poor siblings caught between the implacable law which throws suspects into prison without trial and ferocious vice lords who control drugs and prostitution with impunity. In this toxic environment, children are collateral victims." For
Screen Daily, Wendy Ide reviewed: "Although at times a little overwrought in tone, and at others emphatically sentimental, the film doesn't pull its punches when it comes to condemning a society which punishes its poor. It's also an arresting visual experience: a potent recurring motif uses silhouettes; another a scattering flocks of birds." Shyam Krishna Kumar of
Gulf News stated: "
Beyond the Clouds talks, with an extremely light touch, about the added pressure poverty puts on women and their safety. Majidi manages to tell this story in a country unlike his own — and tell it well — is a testament to its universal strength." J. Hurtado of
Screen Anarchy stated: "A stranger in a strange land, Majidi's film attempts to use the rhythms of Bollywood without fully committing to the form, leaving this film as a bit of a half-baked effort that, while certainly worth watching, is far from a masterpiece". Anisha Jhaveri of
IndieWire, graded the film B+ and noted: "Heartrending one minute and heavy-handed the next, "Beyond the Clouds" is in equal parts beautiful and frustrating."
India Film critic
Komal Nahta reviewed: "
Beyond The Clouds is 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." Devesh Sharma of
Filmfare reviewed, "It's the duty of artist to familiarise the unfamiliar and that's what Majidi has done here." He assigned the film 3.5 stars out of 5. Umesh Punwani at
Koimoi gave the film 3.5 stars out of 5 and stated: "Majid Majidi, though not playing on his home ground, manages to hit the ball out of the park." Niel Soans of
The Times of India assigned 3.5 stars out of 5, noting the visual appeal and direction, he pointed: "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." Critic
Anupama Chopra who wrote the review for
Film Companion gave the film 3 stars out of 5, stated: "
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." Critic
Rajeev Masand who wrote for
News 18, reviewed by assigning 3 stars out of 5, "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".
NDTV's Saibal Chatterjee gave the film 2.5 stars out of 5, calling it "overheated and underwhelming". Reviewing the film for
Hindustan Times, critic Rohit Vats assigned 2.5 stars out of 5 and stated: "Despite excellent symbols and good performances in patches, Beyond The Clouds remains something we have seen before." Shubhra Gupta of
The Indian Express reviewed that the film is good-looking yet hollow, assigning it 2 stars out of 5.
Namrata Joshi of
The Hindu pointed: "The film just doesn't manage to throb with the authenticity of experience. It feels like an artificial world – virtuous but curiously inert." == References ==