Joyland review: Desires run wild in Saim Sadiq's controversial, daring directorial debut that Pakistan wanted to ban
2 years, 1 month ago

Joyland review: Desires run wild in Saim Sadiq's controversial, daring directorial debut that Pakistan wanted to ban

Hindustan Times  

The first component that strikes in Saim Sadiq's debut feature Joyland is the framing. Joyland, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, jostles for space and privacy in a deeply patriarchal society where taboo desires threaten to ruin the religious conservative norms, and sexuality exists in a hetero-normative prerogative. Yet curiosity tethers around the edges and desires run wild in this daring, humane drama. But Joyland ultimately belongs to Mumtaz- the embittered wife of a complicit man- who cannot run away and Rasti Farooq steals the show with a remarkably raw performance.

Film Sadiq Rana Haider Biba Mumtaz Joyland  sadiqs  family  wild  directorial  saim  film  theatre  rana  wanted  mumtaz  desires  pakistan  run  woman  joyland  haider  shes  wife  review

History of this topic

Review: ‘Joyland,’ a Pakistani queer-cinema milestone, lays bare the complexity of desire
1 year, 11 months ago

Review: ‘Joyland,’ a Pakistani queer-cinema milestone, lays bare the complexity of desire

LA Times  

It’s one of the many resonant pleasures of “Joyland,” a visually arresting, politically forceful melodrama from Pakistan, that you’ll spend the early going figuring out exactly who its characters are — in and of themselves, and also in relation to each other. The father of those children is Haider’s older brother, Saleem, a gruff, bullying upholder of the patriarchy and …

Joyland crosses the line with profound sensitivity
2 years, 2 months ago

Joyland crosses the line with profound sensitivity

Firstpost  

Saim Sadiq’s Joyland is a very strange beast, and I mean that in the most complimentary and positive sense possible. I think Kaifi Azmi crystallized the theme of Joyland long before: Tum itna jo muskura rahe ho kya gham hai jissko chupa rahe ho. Notoriously, Haider undertakes a highly volatile and dangerous relationship with a transgender erotic dancer Biba.This is …

‘Joyland’ movie review: Saim Sadiq’s film is a poignant drama about desire
2 years, 2 months ago

‘Joyland’ movie review: Saim Sadiq’s film is a poignant drama about desire

The Hindu  

The news of Joyland, Pakistan’s official entry to the 95th Academy Awards making it to the shortlist, has rekindled interest in director Saim Sadiq’s debut feature film about seemingly conflicted gender identities and repressed desires in a conservative society. Joyland Director: Saim Sadiq Cast: Alina Khan, Ali Junejo, Sameer Sohail, Rasti Farooq, Salmaan Peerzada, Sarwat Geelani Runtime: 126 minutes Storyline: …

Joyland: Longing and hope in Lahore
2 years, 4 months ago

Joyland: Longing and hope in Lahore

Live Mint  

Before you watch Saim Sadiq’s Joyland, take out 16 minutes to look up Darling on YouTube. In this student film by Sadiq, which won best short at the 2019 Venice Film Festival, a trans woman named Alina Darling, played by transgender actor Alina Khan, comes to audition at a theatre where mujras are performed. The early scenes establish Haider as …

Pakistan's Joyland at Cannes Film Festival mocks at age-old traditions
2 years, 9 months ago

Pakistan's Joyland at Cannes Film Festival mocks at age-old traditions

Hindustan Times  

Joyland, reportedly the first ever Pakistani work at the Cannes Film Festival, has a huge resemblance to Bollywood fare, and not surprisingly so. Saim Sadiq's debut feature, Joyland, which was part of the 12-day event's Un Certain Regard meant for experimental cinema, does have a lot of freshness as far as performances and settings go. A little into Joyland, we …

Cannes Film Festival: Pakistan's Joyland Critiques Age-old Traditions
2 years, 10 months ago

Cannes Film Festival: Pakistan's Joyland Critiques Age-old Traditions

News 18  

Joyland, reportedly the first-ever Pakistani work at the Cannes Film Festival, has a huge resemblance to Bollywood fare, and not surprisingly so. Saim Sadiq’s debut feature, Joyland, which was part of the 12-day event’s Un Certain Regard meant for experimental cinema, does have a lot of freshness as far as performances and settings go. A little into Joyland, we do …

Discover Related