The film industry of Pakistan, post-pandemic has shown stability with an exciting mix of art-house and mainstream films like ‘Kamli’ and ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’. Besides bringing in the much-needed footfalls and keeping the cash registers ringing, the two films importantly coaxed the audiences to witness the magic of the big screen.
Some films are created with a vision of breaking stereotypes. Some work and some don’t. But one thing that remains constant is that they make a way for many like them to come. Saim Sadiq’s ‘Joyland’ seems to be one. 2022 has some more substantial content to offer as the internationally acclaimed film is set to lure the domestic audience on November 18.
After months of accumulating historic milestones and accolades for Pakistan on the world stage, the trailer of ‘Joyland’ has finally been released on YouTube. The one-and-a-half-minute trailer gives a sneak peek at a claustrophobic household where individuals deal with the complexities of gender identity, buried desires and self-discovery.
The Story
For the unversed, the plot of Joyland heavily borrows from Sadiq’s ‘Darling’ which won best short film at the 2019 Venice Film Festival. Set in the walled city of Lahore, the trailer of ‘Joyland’ narrates the story of Haider (Ali Junejo) who works as a background dancer for Biba (Alina Khan), a trans woman, at an erotic theatre. Haider, however, tells his patriarch father whom he fears the most that he is a theatre manager and nothing more. Biba wants to headline her own show, we see huge cutouts of her, being placed at the theatre, which doesn’t go well with the resident diva. Haider becomes infatuated with Biba, and with time, something innocent grows into something bigger and beyond.
Haider and his wife Mumtaz (Rasti Farooq) come across as an affectionate couple. While the former is busy crushing on Biba, Mumtaz sees Nucchi (Sarwat Gilani) as an object of desire. She shares tender and sensuous moments of joy with her sister-in-law. The members of the Rana family are on a similar quest of finding selfhood. The trailer concludes by giving us a prominent look at the other members i.e. Sohail Sameer, Sania Saeed, and Salman Peerzada.
Awards and Recognition
‘Joyland’ had its world premiere at the 75th Cannes Film Festival 2022. It is the first Pakistani film that received a standing ovation after the screening. It also won the Jury prize and the Queer Palm award. Apart from getting glorious international reviews, the film is Pakistan’s official submission at the 95th Academy Awards (Oscars) in the ‘Best International Film’ category. It has also found a place at tiff (Toronto International Film Festival 2022). The film was also declared the ‘Best Film of the sub-continent’ at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM).
Final Word
The vibrant trailer of Joyland cleverly brims the elements of joy, blood, sorrows, sacrifice, struggles and breathtaking silences. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and truly delivers what it set out to achieve.
