The Clay Bird is a tender and beautiful evocation of a boy's coming of age in politically unstable East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in the late nineteen sixties. At his father's command, shy village boy Anu is sent away from the apparent safety of his home to a strict Islamic school or madrasah. Here he makes friends with shy but imaginative outsider Rokon.

Anu's father is becoming an increasingly strict Muslim and is deeply suspicious of the colourful Hindu tradition that surrounds his family in their village. His interest in homeopathy is another way he seeks to impose his own belief system on his family, even when this stance becomes life threatening.

Returning to his village from the madrasah Anu becomes aware that change is in the air, and that nothing will remain the same, either within his family, or in the country at large. When violence breaks out in the countryside surrounding their village, Anu's whole family has to deal with the physical manifestations of their beliefs, with shocking results. With unblinking and forgiving eyes Masud explores the theme of belief by looking at areas as diverse as communism, homeopathy and religious fervour in this vital and unusual film.

Winner of the International Critics' Prize, Cannes 2002.

The Clay Bird opens on the 4th July 2003 at the ICA in London and at selected cinemas thereafter.