2023 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
People from around the world emigrate to the United States, a place where they are promised a future, where they are promised a chance to change their lives for the better. Elena (Caroline Valencia), a young girl, wants a brighter future in the United States–so she travels to the Land of Gold. She then meets Kiran (Nardeep Khurmi), and what was once a longshot now becomes a possibility–and together they might both get everything they could ever want.
Land of Gold is a touching story about doing whatever it takes to find success, about doing whatever you have to in order to propel yourself forward. It’s this sentiment, the hidden meanings buried throughout the film that appeal to viewers, that allow us to appreciate the film as a whole. Land of Gold never stops providing hope, never stops telling viewers to do their best in life–and this emotional relevance, its ability to really connect with viewers on a personal level is what allows it to flourish.
Cinematically, Land of Gold envelopes viewers early, presenting them with a series of juxtapositional set designs and tones that captivate. Kiran is at a place in his life in which he’s trying to do better, and yet he can’t seem to find his way–weighed down by the same turbulence that often plagues many of us. The sets help to develop his train of thought, his mood, and the overall tone of the film at any given moment. As the set shifts from desolate landscapes to blossoming suburbs, Land of Gold and Kiran develop as well. Land of Gold runs the gamut of emotions, and it throws these emotions into a pot that continues to blend throughout the film in its entirety. Emotion never relents, and the visuals help the film develop from beginning to end.
Valencia is the key to success. It’s more than just her talent that helps to drive the film, however, it’s her ability to connect with Khurmi. Their connection develops early, almost from the first time they are seen together on screen. While the two characters are not related, they develop a father-daughter-esque relationship that is integral to Land of Gold. Again, Valencia is the key to success–and without her ability to connect with Khurmi, the film can never find its way. It often feels that the two have a familial relationship off screen, as if every word they speak is drawn from some personal experience that the two have shared–and their bond is beautiful, never faltering, only becoming more powerful and relevant over time.
Land of Gold begins with a powerful message of love and struggle, and that message grows and transforms throughout the course of the film. Land of Gold has very specific intentions, and they are made obvious early and often–but Writer-Director Khurmi never takes it too far, never divides audiences, and keeps the film on a very smooth and linear path. Land of Gold does its job, and it entertains viewers on an emotional level throughout its entirety.
Written & Directed by Nardeep Khurmi.
Starring Nardeep Khurmi, Caroline Valencia, Pallavi Sastry, Iqbal Theba, Riti Sachdeva, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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