Joyland: Longing and hope in Lahore
2 years, 5 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 a dreamy young fellow in no hurry to find a job: he’s happy making dal at home and playing with his nieces while Mumtaz works at a parlour. Their increasing closeness has the knock-on effect of ending Mumtaz’s freedom to work, even if Haider’s father and brother aren’t thrilled that he’s working at an erotic dance hall. Khan’s film would make a great first half in a double bill with Joyland—not least for their contrasting energies—and Reema’s section gives us an idea of the struggles of Biba that we don’t see.

Film Sadiq Haider Biba Darling Mumtaz Joyland  lahore  film  mujra  biba  sadiq  trans  hes  longing  joyland  haider  mumtaz  khan  hope  darling

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 review: Desires run wild in Saim Sadiq's controversial, daring directorial debut that Pakistan wanted to ban
2 years, 2 months 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 …

‘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' becomes first Pakistani film to enter Oscars shortlist
2 years, 3 months ago

'Joyland' becomes first Pakistani film to enter Oscars shortlist

The Hindu  

Pakistani film "Joyland" may have faced trials and tribulations at home but to the international community, it was a banger from the start and now has been shortlisted for the Oscars, the first ever movie to do so from the country. "Joyland" is among 15 films that made the cut for the best international feature film honour and will advance …

Pakistan bans the film Joyland, its official Oscar entry, because of ‘highly objectionable content’ concerning queer theme
2 years, 4 months ago

Pakistan bans the film Joyland, its official Oscar entry, because of ‘highly objectionable content’ concerning queer theme

Op India  

On November 11, Saim Sadiq’s critically-acclaimed film Joyland got banned in Pakistan by the authorities. In its notification, the ministry noted, “Written complaints were received that the film contains highly objectionable material which does not conform with the social values and moral standards of our society and is clearly repugnant to the norms of ‘decency and morality as laid down …

Pakistani Film 'Joyland' Makes History at The 75th Cannes Film Festival
2 years, 10 months ago

Pakistani Film 'Joyland' Makes History at The 75th Cannes Film Festival

The Quint  

Sarwat Gilani who plays one of the daughters in law Nuchi calls it a “dream come true”. “For a film like Joyland to represent Pakistan is a huge honour and it gives an entirely different perspective of Pakistani cinema to the world.” Although it’s Independent cinema and not commercial therefore not making a lot of money, investors are hesitant to …

Cannes 2022: 'I have been living with Joyland for seven years,' says director Saim Sadiq
2 years, 10 months ago

Cannes 2022: 'I have been living with Joyland for seven years,' says director Saim Sadiq

Firstpost  

It’s a year the Cannes film festival actively returned to its full physical form after the pandemic-imposed restrictions are finally lifted. Despite the pizazz of big-ticket red-carpet events that attracted hordes of celebrities from Hollywood and international cinema, alongside social media influencers, one hidden gem in the Un Certain Regard, a sidebar section of the film festival, still managed to …

Pakistan's Joyland at Cannes Film Festival mocks at age-old traditions
2 years, 10 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 …

Happy Bhag Jayegi: Trailer of Diana Penty, Abhay Deol starrer points to the movie being a mad riot
8 years, 8 months ago

Happy Bhag Jayegi: Trailer of Diana Penty, Abhay Deol starrer points to the movie being a mad riot

India TV News  

New Delhi: Absent from silver screen since 2012, model-turned-actress Diana Penty is all set for a new innings in the film industry, this time with a rom-com whose trailer will make you laugh. Starring Abhay Deol, Ali Fazal and Jimmy Shergill in pivotal roles, Diana’s upcoming movie ‘Happy Bhaag Jaayegi’ is directed by Mudassar Aziz and it is being produced …

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