Shortlisted for Best International Feature for the 2023 Academy Awards®

The debut feature from writer-director Saim Sadiq, Joyland explores the many sides of love and desire in a patriarchal society. Gentle and timid Haider (Ali Junejo) lives with his wife Mumtaz (Rasti Farooq), his father, and his elder brother’s family in Lahore, Pakistan. Following a long spell of unemployment, Haider finally lands a job at a Bollywood-style burlesque, telling his family he is a theater manager, when in actuality he is a backup dancer. This unusual position shakes up the steadfast traditional dynamics of his household, enabling Haider to break out of his shell. As he acclimates to the new job, Haider becomes infatuated with the strong-willed trans woman Biba (Alina Khan) who runs the show; an unforeseen partnership that opens his eyes—and ultimately his worldview—in ways both unexpected and intimate.

JBFC Members: Get a Passport stamp for Pakistan when you see Joyland!