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Joyland

Saim Sadiq
Filmfestival
Thu 20 Apr 23 - Thu 27 Apr 23

In several ways, this film threw high eyes in its homeland Pakistan. Queer subjects are often silenced by conservative Muslims, but that’s what makes ‘Joyland’ so unique.

Joyland is the oldest amusement park in Lahore, the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab. It’s a place where people like Haider and his pregnant wife Mumtaz like to go to forget all their worries. And worries they have. She is cracking under the social pressure to deliver a son. He on the other hand guards a big secret: he works as a dancer in an exotic nightclub.

 

Not only the colourful visual style is special, but also the way in which the director tells this story. ‘Joyland’ balances between humour and seriousness and the playfulness never undermines the power of the social relevance. The film also leaves an impression as an honest, taboo-breaking and heart-warming portrait of an innocent family.

direction
Saim Sadiq
cast
Rast Farooq, Sarwat Gilani, Ali Junejo
duration
126 min
year
2022
country
Pakistan
language
Punjabi, Urdu
Subtitles
Dutch, French

‘Joyland’ is both dynamic and endearing.

De Standaard