Land of Gold

‘"This is a touching, emotional movie that rings true at every turn. I hated to see it end."‘

‘Land of Gold is a fantastic film from Khurmi—especially for a debut feature. It has the weight and pathos that carries you from beginning to end, while it has something to say about being an immigrant in a country that’s built on immigration, but somehow, makes life tougher and harder on immigrants as a whole.‘

‘“Khurmi’s debut feature is a profound, superbly acted meditation on home, life and family – not just the one we’re born into, but the one we make for ourselves… Land of Gold is not only enthralling from start to end, but also immersive and intimate, effortlessly entertaining, suspenseful, unpredictable, and meaningful, so much so that it’s hard to believe it’s a debut." “Thanks to an exceptionally well-crafted script that allows for moments of intimacy and reflection as well as tense, fast-paced scenes and unpredictable twists, the film is never boring and always engaging, and its stunning cinematography (Christopher Low) enables us to take in the landscape and effectively immerse ourselves in the narrative. But the heart of the film resides in Nardeep Khurmi and Caroline Valencia... their superb performances making their already well-rounded characters even more human, and turning us into emotional wrecks with simple glances.”‘

‘“Land of Gold is a tale of family, spirituality, and healing, and one that instilled an indescribable amalgamation of warmth and melancholy... Between Khurmi’s incredible writing and performance as Kiran, Chris Low’s breathtaking cinematography, the unfolding of Kiran’s and Elena’s histories, futures, and relationship together, Land of Gold unlocked something within my heart—a profound faith in the idea that we are not alone in this vast, unknowable, uncaring universe.”‘

‘"Director Nardeep Khurmi’s feature debut is a touching story of one man’s self-discovery in a climate of fear… a disquieting glimpse into the perilous American landscape, driven by fear and misunderstanding."‘

‘Few debut features brim with such feeling, and even fewer reflect such an urgent need to solve a lifetime of inherited trauma in the span of a single film, as if their director may never get a second chance. The bittersweet final moments of this first movie, in which “Land of Gold” elegantly reconciles the hopes that Kiran has for his daughter with the heartache that he received from his parents, find Khurmi making the most of a chance several generations in the making.‘

‘"Land of Gold is an emotional tale of generational trauma, immigrant dreams, and new beginnings. It’s a beautiful debut film for all involved, and carries a hopeful message underneath very real, prescient, and traumatic ideas toward immigrants in today’s American cultural climate: the “land of gold” is still waiting here for all of us, if only we learn from both the lessons and mistakes of our ancestors."‘

‘"Land of Gold tugs your heartstrings with sentimental sweetness. Kiran and Elena bonding is never in doubt. She's proof that Kiran is indeed good father material. But Elena's fate isn't a fairy tale with a happy ending. The last scene lingers with hope and trepidation."‘

‘"Nardeep Khurmi’s film is a moving human drama surrounding a Punjabi truck driver & a Mexican girl who ensue on a road trip to find the latter’s family. Abundant with dramatic moments, the film features ace lead acts by Khurmi & Caroline Valencia."‘

‘“Land of Gold is a great watch. It will hold your attention while also sparking important conversations afterward amongst families with older kids… The result is a heartwarming experience that sits at the intersection of fatherhood and social justice.”‘

‘"A brilliant, bittersweet addition to the surrogate parent-child road trip genre" “Land of Gold is surprisingly deceptive. It toys with your idea of how movies belonging to this subgenre go and pushes it to its limits… Then, bam, Nardeep Khurmi delivers one emotional haymaker after another, thereby bringing you to your knees and drowning you in your own puddle of tears… It’s a brilliantly conceived story. And Caroline Valencia’s star-making performance is something you have to see to believe.”‘