by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
How much pain and suffering do people go through due to the constraints and expectations of society? I am starting this review hot and heavy. There are so many places in this world where society has created restrictive expectations for people, that many are forced to be who we are not. These false lives can lead to deceit, pain, and lies. These are challenging and serious themes to tackle in a film, but special ones are willing to try. One such special film is the first ever Pakistani entry into Cannes, Joyland.
What are these challenging themes and ideas that writer/director Saim Sadiq tackles in this moving and poignant drama? Joyland is quite the film, as it looks at gender roles, sexuality, and gender itself. The Pakistani settling gives the film a traditional and restrictive set of “rules” for our characters to live by. We focus on a traditional family with an older patriarch who has two sons. The older brother has done everything that has been asked of him, and more importantly, expected of him. The younger? Not so much. Haider is a submissive man who is fine living a life at home, while his successful and self-sufficient wife Mumtaz works. But the tension begins when they are forced to switch places, and Haider must get a job. Which is… being a backup dancer at a Burlesque show for a transgender woman performer who he falls hard for. This is quite the sticky situation.
What are the keys to this drama? The three main characters. The whole story and themes channel through these great characters and performers. Haider is a quiet and sad man who seems disconnected from the life he leads. His unfilled experience is sad to watch, as he floats around like a shell of a man. Ali Junejo imbues Haider with poor posture, sad eyes, and a tentativeness that screams of someone not in the driver’s seat of their own life. We finally see life in him when he first connects with this performer, Biba (Alina Khan). But it is his “weakness” that shines through. He is never the one to come on first or to take controlling positions when they become intimate. Sadiq does a great job (along with Junejo’s subtlety) of showing what Haider’s true nature is. He is vulnerable with both women in his life, but tragically misunderstands Biba, which leads to pain for both.
What about Biba? The film does focus on transgender issues in ways to progress Haider, but also to show the struggles that a trans woman must go through. There is a moment on a train to show the prejudice and ignorance of others who refuse to acknowledge who Biba truly is. Biba wants nothing more than to be a woman in all matters (including physically). This causes tension with Haider at times and leads to one of the most tragic moments in the film. Ignorance to what it truly means to be a trans woman and what Biba wants out of life brings plenty of hurt. Biba is a strong and magnetic presence (how could Haider resist?) thanks to the impressive performance of Khan. She is confident and strong, and gets to flex her acting chops with plenty of emotion as she must both physically and emotionally defend herself throughout the film.
How about the tragic character of Mumtaz? Through the whole film, we feel nothing but sympathy for her. She is screwed out of her livelihood because she is a woman in a traditional society and home. She is left repressed and longing for physical intimacy, and even goes to some awkward lengths to feel something. But she waits at home, wondering why Haider is late and why he never wants to touch her. Her story takes some drastic turns, and she suffers so much from things out of her control. Rasti Farooq gives what might be the film’s best performance as this suffering wife. She is charismatic and gains the audience’s empathy and support. Farooq creates a genuine and lovely person, and you wonder why she must suffer through what she does.
Will this Pakistani gem get the right attention come this awards season? This film is a powerful and deep drama that should be getting plenty of attention. There is plenty of stiff competition for the Best International Feature statue this year (life every year), which will make this an uphill battle for Joyland. But the performances are incredible, the characters are deep and rich, and the story is packed to the gills with meaningful themes and ideas to experience and discuss long after the film is over. You will be glued to the screen and feeling every second of this tragic journey.
Score: 10/10
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