JOYLAND
The debut feature from writer-director Saim Sadiq, JOYLAND explores the many sides of love and desire in a patriarchal society.
SYNOPSIS
The debut feature from writer-director Saim Sadiq, JOYLAND explores the many sides of love and desire in a patriarchal society. Gentle and timid, Haider (Ali Junejo) lives with his wife Mumtaz (Rasti Farooq), his father, and his elder brother’s family in Lahore, Pakistan. Following a long spell of unemployment, Haider finally lands a job at a Bollywood-style burlesque, telling his family he is a theater manager, when in actuality, he is a backup dancer. The unusual position shakes up the steadfast traditional dynamics of his household and enables Haider to break out of his shell. As he acclimates to the new job, Haider becomes infatuated with the strong-willed trans woman Biba (Alina Khan) who runs the show—an unforeseen partnership that opens his eyes and ultimately his worldview, in ways both unexpected and intimate.
Director
Saim Sadiq
WITH
Ali Junejo, Rasti Farooq, Alina Khan, Sarwat Gilani, Salmaan Peerzada, Sania Saeed
Run Time
2 hours, 6 minutes
Released
April 7, 2023
Distributed by
Oscilloscope Laboratories
HEARING AND VISUAL ASSISTANCE
Assisted Listening
Subtitled / Open Captions
Country
Pakistan
SUBTITLES
Urdu and Punjabi with English Subtitles
NOT RATED
Many of the films shown at The Ross are not rated due to the prohibitive cost of acquiring a rating from the Motion Picture Association of America. Consequently, as many of these films contain graphic content, viewer discretion is advised.
SHOWINGS
MAY 12 | FRI
5:00, 7:35 p.m.
MAY 13 | SAT
2:20, 7:35 p.m.
MAY 14 | SUN
11:45 a.m., 2:20, 5:00, 7:35 p.m.
MAY 15 | MON
5:00, 7:35 p.m.
MAY 16 | TUE
5:00, 7:35 p.m.
MAY 17 | WED
5:00, 7:35 p.m.
MAY 18 | THU
5:00, 7:35 p.m.
MAY 19 | FRI
5:00, 7:35 p.m.
MAY 20 | SAT
5:00, 7:35 p.m.
MAY 21 | SUN
11:50 a.m., 2:25, 5:00, 7:35 p.m.
MAY 22 | MON
5:00, 7:35 p.m.
MAY 23 | TUE
5:00, 7:35 p.m.
MAY 24 | WED
5:00, 7:35 p.m.
MAY 25 | THU
5:00, 7:35 p.m.
REVIEWS
“Joyland is such a delicate, intelligent and emotionally rich film. What a debut from Sadiq.”
“Sadiq is not lecturing us or trading in types; he is taking us by sensory surprise, and the tale that he tells is funny, forward, and sometimes woundingly sad.”
“The picture transcends the tragic romance narrative, to achieve something rather more complex and satisfying.”