In “Joyland,” the characters are lost, searching for joy, but where is their “Joyland” and can it exist within a traditional family structure? Saim Sadiq’s “Joyland” is the first Pakistani film to premiere at Cannes and was awarded the Queer Palm and Un Certain Regard Jury Prize.

The father (Salmaan Peerzada) of this family has two sons, but both have disappointed him. Neither has produced a son.  The elder son Saleem (Sohail Sameer) and his wife Nuclei (Sarwat Gilani) have produced only daughters. The youngest, Haider Rana (Ali Junejo) is a soft-hearted man. Early on, when he is tasked with slaughtering an animal, he hesitates. Ultimately, it is his wife, Mumtaz (Rasti Farooq) who must do the job.

Haider, much to the confusion of his older brother Saleem and the consternation of his father, is the homemaker. His wife is a makeup artist. When his father pressures Haider to get a job and get Mumtaz pregnant with a son, the tender and unconventional world of Haider and Mumtaz is shattered. But this isn’t just about Mumtaz and her dashed aspirations. Haider finds a job that leads him to question his marriage and his definitions of desire. He becomes a background dancer for the small theater act of a transgender woman, Biba (Alina Khan), but Haider doesn’t tell his family the truth.

As Mumtaz becomes pregnant and alarmed by the confines of her marriage, Haider experiences a curious freedom of desire. Eventually, Haider’s father does find out, but the tragedy isn’t just there.

This is a sensitive thought view of an issues that is making waves in the US and it helps expand our understanding of the extent of the issue and how it affects Asian Americans. The film is also a window into Pakistani culture which most US audiences would benefit looking through.

The film made a splash at the Cannes Film Festival, with Saim Sadiq winning the Queer Palm and Un Certain Regard Jury Prize. Saim Sadiq won the Young Cinema Award at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards as well as Best Screenplay (with Maggie Briggs) in the International Competition at the Athens International Film Festival (2022).  He was also given a Directors to Watch Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. You can currently rent/buy “Joyland” on Amazon Prime Video.