75. Joyland; movie review

 

JOYLAND

Cert 15

127 mins

BBFC advice: Contains very strong language, strong sex, discrimination, suicide

Can we ever truly be ourselves?

That was the deeply philosophical question I found myself posing after watching Saim Sadiq's enthralling Joyland.

I have to confess that my initial reaction was to be thankful that I live in a relatively libertarian environment.

We don't have the sort of "what will the neighbours think?" pressure that exists in the Lahore community featured here.

Joyland stars Ali Junejo as Haider who breaks out of long-term unemployment by being taken on as a dancer as support to a transgender singer, called Biba (Alina Khan).

Biba entrances Haider - because of her apparent strength as well as her beauty. In other words, she is everything that he perceives himself not to be.

Meanwhile, at home, his wife. Mumtaz (Rasti Farooq) is dismayed when she is faced with relinquishing her role as the couple's breadwinner.

Because her husband is now going out to work, she is expected to look after his disabled father (Salmaan Peerzada) and even his brother's children.

The juxtaposition of Haider's exotic work and the conservative home life is at the movie's heart.

It also challenges the accepted roles of men and women in Pakistani society and rigorous family expectations.

It is not the first movie about Pakistan which has pleasantly surprised me - largely because of the preconceived ideas we have of the country in the west and through Bollywood films.

But it is more than just a lifted veil. Its acting and directing are strong enough on their own to create audience investment in its characters. 

Indeed, I felt pity for all of them because society's constraints meant none could be their true selves.

Nevertheless, I was absorbed in this unusual but powerful drama.

Reasons to watch: Unusual and powerful drama

Reasons to avoid: Stretches the theme a bit

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: Yes

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? Joyland is the first Pakistani film to premiere at Cannes Film Festival. It won Jury Prize and Queer Palm prize for best LGBTQ, queer or feminist theme movie.

The final word. Saim Sadiq: ""Joyland is a de-romanticization of a coming-of-age tale and a homage to all the women, men, and trans people who pay the human cost of patriarchy. It is also a celebration of the desire that creates unlikely bonds and the love that immortalizes them. Ultimately, it is but a heartbroken love letter to my homeland."

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