Films
JOYLAND – August 18 – 20 @ Wadsworth Atheneum

JOYLAND – August 18 – 20 @ Wadsworth Atheneum

JOYLAND

Four Screenings @ Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art:

Co-presented by Out Film CT

WINNER of the Cannes Film Festival – Un Certain Regard Jury Prize!

Joyland tells two queer love stories that intersect in unique ways. The first is between Haider (Ali Junejo) and his wife, Mumtaz (Rasti Farooq), which is full of tenderness and reciprocity. The second is Haider’s love for Biba (Alina Khan), a trans woman and erotic dancer who draws Haider into their orbit, allowing him to loosen up and be more confident. This film about the liberation of desire challenges the rigid gender roles and social norms that are deeply embedded in Pakistani society and shows people’s struggles when living outside of traditional expectations.

Director Saim Sadiq | 2022 | Pakistan, USA | 126 minutes | Not Rated | in Punjabi & Urdu with English subtitles

Cast: Ali Junejo, Rasti Rarooq, Alina Khan, Sarwat Gilani

“The picture transcends the tragic romance narrative, to achieve something rather more complex and satisfying.” – Wendy Ide, Observer (UK)

“Joyland’s quiet power comes not through melodrama, which Sadiq scrupulously avoids, but its deep affection for its characters. It’s a modern tale of changing gender roles and the patriarchal crisis that could just as easily have taken place in New York.” – Kaleem Aftab, Time Out