The teaser of Saim Sadiq’s much-awaited Joyland has finally hit the web world. The tale of the sexual revolution sees a patriarchal family yearn for the birth of a baby boy to continue the family line, while their youngest son secretly joins an erotic dance theater and falls for an ambitious transsexual starlet. The first teaser has managed to create excitement, thanks to the unique plot of the film.
The 45-second clip presents a multi-dimensional world rarely showcased on celluloid, with oodles of colors and diversity. At first, we get to see Alina Khan’s cardboard cutout, Ali Junejo deeply in love and Rasti Farooq is living the moments of her life. Sarwat Gilani gazes into the camera and all the lead actors are seen in a birthday sequence togeather. Cut to the next scene which shows Khan at a hospital in blood. The teaser ends with a theatre scene where Khan and Junejo work together. The exciting and emotional world of Joyland delves deep into the challenging complexities of desire and patriarchy, through the story of Rana’s family.
Joyland has been creating waves on social media ever since it became the first-ever Pakistani competitive entry at the Cannes festival. It also won the Jury Prize in the “Un Certain Regard” competition. The film is also Pakistan’s official entry to the Oscars.
The film has been written and directed by Sadiq and produced by Apoorva Guru Charan, Sarmad Sultan Khoosat and Lauren Mann. The film’s ensemble cast includes debutantes Junejo, Alina Khan, and Rasti Farooq. The film also features actors like Sarwat Gilani, Sania Saeed, Sohail Sameer, and Salmaan Peerzada.
Saim Sadiq in September took to Instagram and announced that the film that bagged Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. It will be releasing in Pakistan and revealed a brand new poster for Joyland. Recently, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai’s inclusion in the team as an executive producer was also announced.
Joyland will be released in theatres across Pakistan on November 18.
