Cannes review: “Joyland” by Saim Sadiq

A married man will fall in love with a trans woman land of joy, The first Pakistani feature film to star in Cannes. Saim Sadiq’s evocative drama Un Certain Regard also explores the entire family, presenting the image of a torn clan in modern-day Lahore.

Haider (Ali Junjo) has a seemingly happy marriage with Mumtaz (Rasti Farooq). But when she gets a job as a support dancer for glamorous trans singer Biba (Alina Khan), her eyes open to another way of life and potentially another way to love. Meanwhile, his wife is frustrated by the expectations of the patriarchal society in which she lives, much less enthusiastic about the prospect of bringing another child into the family (her fiancée has daughters, which frustrates everyone).

The land of joy The title is an amusement park that makes many members of the group run away, dancing with the group or screaming in pain as they walk through the market.

Haider silently creates a convincing leader: the man is oppressed by his father’s usual expectations and is more sensitive than he dares to admit. His wife is a tragic figure: an intelligent woman who deserves more than her fate. But the most notable character is Biba, a pre-operative trans woman who dances in an exotic way for a living, sometimes in front of a large and relatively mainstream audience, sometimes for a small group of lewd and sexually aggressive men.

The relationship between Haider and Biba is intriguing: we are never sure how far Haider will go or what drives Haider. It is speculated that she may be attracted to men, which angers Biba, who identifies as female. Yet, there is a tangible tenderness between these two lost souls, both of unsigned lives. The fact that Biba took a bold step to change her gender clearly forces Haider to live more honestly about her own sexuality. But it can be a price.

land of joy It has a clear sense of place, created not so much by its geographic location as by its characters. Daily rituals focus on the details, whether it’s family celebrations or group dance rehearsals. Mostly emotionally restrained, he avoids a sudden bowel movement at the end of the film, where he focuses on one worthy subject and shoots the other main character.

This presumably should reflect the protagonist’s perspective, even if it leaves some plots in the air. But land of joy It remains a thoughtful, well-executed and captivating drama set in a culture that is changing, and not always easily.