TIFF Review: ‘Joyland’
Saim Sadiq’s debut feature film Joyland begins with the birth of a baby girl in the most ordinary of circumstances. A woman’s water breaks. She asks her brother-in-law to get the bike and drive her to the hospital. They rush towards it and are met with questions and instructions by the nurse upon reaching. The father arrives just in time for the birth of the girl, much to everyone’s dismay. It’s clear that the family was desperate for a boy, and this just happens to be one of the many burdens they’ll now have to hold on to for eternity.
“Sometimes I feel like I have nothing that’s my own. Everything feels borrowed or stolen from someone else.” These lines are uttered by the protagonist Haider (Ali Junejo), as he lies on his back in an empty theatre row. Beside him is Biba (Alina Khan), his transgender lover and star of the show. We see their bodies from an upside-down angle as Haider reminisces over the uncertainties of his life and the facade he has created in front of his family. At first glance, it may seem like a typical cheesy love story. But with several other familial themes at hand, it’s so much more.
Set in Lahore, Pakistan, this film depicts a society where only a few people dare to reveal their true selves. Appearances are everything and honor is not to be taken for granted. Those who share similar backgrounds will resonate with a lot of what’s shown here. The fear of the neighbor’s gossip, the observation of pre-decided gender roles, the lack of privacy inside homes, the stolen dreams, and the constant lump in our throats of words left unspoken. Joyland is a mirror to several Pakistani and South Asian families, where self-respect has more importance than members’ inner selves.
Haider is described as an obedient son who doesn’t even pee without his father’s permission. His diffident nature prevents him from being the man society expects him to be. His wife Mumtaz (Rasti Farooq) works at a beauty parlor, acting as the breadwinner of the family while he stays at home spending time with his nieces or engaging in domestic work. Due to the conjugal roles being wholly reversed in this household, its members feel trapped due to societal expectations. When Haider is secretly able to get a job as a background dancer at an erotic theatre, he believes he will also be able to contribute to the family. But then he meets Biba, a transgender dancer, whom he immediately falls for and this leads him to wonder who he is and what he wants in life.
As a queer person who grew up in Pakistan – Lahore, to be exact – it’s hard not to develop an instant emotional connection with this film. It’s that moment where one finally sees themselves being represented on screen, perhaps not through characters but through emotions, dialogues, and settings. Its depiction of angst in a conservative society hits home, especially the aura of fear and loneliness that come within. Although Joyland will certainly appeal to everyone with its stunning frames and heart-wrenching conversations between characters, its deeply personal and sincere portrayal of a repressive Muslim society will resonate heavily with those that have lived in it.
What makes this film so interesting is the idea that for traditional households, the real villain is simply the society around them that imposes rigid expectations on individuals and genders. Nearly every character in the film (Biba included) is seen falling prey to gendered expectations and roles. The same patriarchal society fiddles with everyone in different but similar ways. Even the father (Salmaan Peerzada) fears the judgment of others when their neighbor Mrs. Fayyaz (Sania Saeed) innocently spends the night looking after him. Mumtaz is also shown as being stuck in a marriage that isn’t what she truly desires, even though the relationship between her and Haider is marked by immense respect.
Haider and Biba have the most interesting character dynamics out of all. While the latter’s constant battle against the ignorance and insults of others is apparent, it is the former’s that many LGBTQ+ people can sympathize with. Although he never actually reveals his sexual orientation, the queer content of the movie feels so interesting and radical regarding what it says about him as a character. So rarely does a film feel like it truly reflects this kind of human experience hence its depiction of flawed and confused characters is close to perfection.
While Bina’s character in the film is out as transgender, the majority of Pakistan’s LGBTQ+ community is still in the closet. As depicted in the movie, it’s not a safe environment for them to reveal their true selves. And that shouldn’t be the case. The realization of being queer is such an individually unique and universally relatable experience, and to capture that feeling on screen must have been a challenge. With Joyland, however, the filmmakers succeeded in doing so. Haider keeps his secret, whatever it may be, close to his chest, but he’s not ashamed. He just isn’t ready. To be living a lie only out of fear is a devastating experience for everyone. It’s completely natural not to know what to do with this piece of ourselves that has to be inevitably shared with people because they will most likely see us differently, even though it’s been part of us all along. It’s confusing and scary. But it’s also joyful because this is who we are and it has to be embraced.
Joyland, itself, is a very apt title for the story. It’s described as a theme park in Lahore where members of the family often go to enjoy their day. In a metaphorical sense, it provides an escape for people, whether releasing their stress by walking under the bright lights or screaming out their pain on a fairground ride. One way or the other, these small details teach us to let go of our insecurities and be true to ourselves if we want to be content in life.
It’s extremely gratifying to see queer stories being told from the South Asian perspective. This is Pakistan’s most authentic contemporary film, tackling not just LGBTQ+ issues but also familial and societal ones. A story that advises societies to grow up and accept their individuals without any sort of bigotry. A story about finding freedom and flux in an unwelcoming world. A story about love and acceptance.
Ultimately, whatever one may think of Joyland, there’s no denying the fact that this movie is like a snapshot, a moment in history. Being trans, being gay, being bi, etc, are normal things. They are the things that make queer people who they are. And even though this may not be the most adventurous take on the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, it’ll strike the hearts of queer individuals in Pakistan. It’s exactly the kind of representation they’ve been wanting for so long. – Nabeel Zaman
Rating: 4.5/5
Joyland premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2022. It also screened at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival in September.