City Of Gold

...not only marks the return of a storyteller who tells it like it is, without the comfort of shortcuts. It's also a macroscopic look at people who populate the fringes. Their silent protests are seldom heard in cinema.

...what could have been classic cinema ends up being commercial celluloid.

...a heart-wrenching and violent journey that has the stamp of a gifted storyteller, Mahesh Manjrekar.

...highly recommended for those who like raw and gritty cinema with a touch of realism.

You only wish that Manjrekar had made this old story new in the way he comes at it: there’s little startlingly fresh about it. But what there is has power, and absolute conviction.

Definitely worth a watch, if you like gritty, real cinema, minus the candyfloss.

The travails of a closely-knit milling community make for a few great moments, if not all-out great cinema.

...had the potential to be a far better film than it is...But the director is unable to find the right narrative tone for this difficult material.

...is a classic case of honest intent, losing to crime content!

The film is watchable for the most part, and might have worked perfectly as an honest slice-of-life drama if it weren't for the filmmaker's tendency to go over the top.

One can call the film somewhat gripping, but hardly one that explores the mill worker’s tribulations with an honest heart.

Do watch this film if you enjoy slice-of-life films. But if candy floss cinema is your cup of tea, then it's best you keep away.

Sure, the concept is nice. But, the nice stuff stops there. It's just the loud and annoying way in which things play out that gets on your nerves after about an hour. And there is another 1.5 hours to go.

Never mind a generic trivialisation of an important mill workers’ issue, though that's disturbing enough. You’d imagine at least the family’s backdrop is essential to this plot. It isn’t.

Manjrekar’s attempt is novel, but his execution is off the cue.

The subject of City of Gold deserves all attention...