JOYLAND

Pakistan, 2022, 126 minutes, Colour.

Ali Junejo, Rasti Farouq, Alina Khan, Sawat Gilani, Salmaan Peerzada, Sohail Sameer, Ramiz Law.

Directed by Saim Sadiq.

Joyland is an unexpected film from Pakistan, screened with success and awards at Cannes, experiencing censorship problems in Pakistan itself, ultimately released there with some cuts – some surprising episodes even for the main audience, episodes which were probably cut.

There are traditions in various parts of Asia and the Pacific where a trans-person, male to female, is seen as someone sacred. There is something of this background in this film but presented in a far more earthy fashion.

Very strong framework for the film, showing a Pakistani family, the dominating patriarchal presence of the father, his expectation of his two sons, of his two daughters in law, of neighbours. One son is married with several children, his wife pregnant, their hoping for a son. The other son, the focus of the film, Haider, does not have a job, works at home around the house, his wife having a job as a beautician and adviser. Then the patriarch decrees that the son should work, that the wife should stay at home.

The focus then goes on to Haider and his friend getting him a lead to a dancing troupe, backup to a trans-woman, Biba. She has a strong personality, also dominating, sometimes at the mercy of the entrepreneur of a club, sometimes outwitting him, able to dance during a power failure with Haider encouraging her and the patrons, mainly male, shining light with their phones. Haider then becomes very attached to Biba, a sexual encounter which alienates Bibafrom him.

The other part of the plot is the complication about Haider’s wife, her pregnancy, her mental decline, her death and the consequences.

The film draws its audience in, observing the intense life of the family, sometimes sympathetic, sometimes alienated, and also dramatises the world of the trans-dancer, acceptance and non-acceptance.

1. The title? Tone? The theme park and its title?
2. The reputation of the film, screening in Cannes and winning awards? Banning in Pakistan? Released with cuts? International acclaim?
3. The city of Lahore, the atmosphere of Pakistan, urban, neighbourhoods, homes, celebrations, the streets, Joyland and the rollercoaster, the musical score?
4. A film about family, patriarchal, the presence of the Father, his dominating, controlling his sons, influence on his daughters-in-law, hopes for grandchildren, boys, presiding at meals, criticisms, especially of Haider? His neighbour and staying the night, her son and his arrival, judgement and condemnation? His 70^th birthday, the cake in celebration?
5. The next generation, the two boys, the older and his marriage, his wife pregnant, managing the house, cooking, the traditional role? The contrast with Haider, the relationship with Mumtaz, as not working, his duties at home, housekeeping, his father, her having the job, beautician, the preparation for the wedding, the lights going out, everybody holding the torches, her success? The pressure on Haider to have a job, the pressure on Mumtaz to stay home, her reactions? Her sister-in-law and their bonding? But the gradual effect on her, some alienation from Haider, his absences from home, the job? The outing with her sister-in-law and the rollercoaster? The test, her pregnancy, a boy, her reaction, not telling her husband, wanting to leave home, packing, her return? Her decline, her drinking the substance, her death?
6. Haider’s story, age, not having a job, at home, his wife at work, the changes situation, his needing a job, his friends? The issue of the theatre, dancing? His hesitations, the encounter with Biba, attracted to her, the rehearsals, his awkwardness, improving, Biba relying on him in times of difficulty, his performance, his persuading her to dance when the lights went out, the audience holding their phones for light? The effect on him, the dancing, with his friends and discussions, homely night late? His father’s reactions?
7. The issue of transition in Pakistan, worldwide? Biba, transition to female dancer, the men and their curiosity about her, her reactions? The domination, demands on the manager of the theatre, financial issues, relying on Haider? His attraction, spending time with her, her response? The sexual issue, his taking position, her reaction, ousting him? Issues of his orientation?
8. Sequence of the large poster cut out, transporting it, into the house, on the roof, the neighbour seeing it in reporting, the family reaction?
9. The death of Mumtaz, everybody gathering, the puzzle, the mystery of her death, pregnancy, the loss of the child? Upsetting the grandfather? Haider and his brother, the interactions, the future?
10. The ending with regrets, Haider and his memories, the first encounter with Mumtaz, their bonding, the proposal, the possibilities for a happy future… But not?