After making Pakistan proud by making the cut for feature films at the Cannes Film festival, Joyland really put Pakistan on the map.
The film got a standing ovation at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival after its premiere.
Standing ovation for “Joyland”, directed by Saim Sadiq! #Joyland #Cannes2022 pic.twitter.com/bG3rQRdmxl
— Rose Harlean (@RoseHarlean) May 23, 2022
Naturally, Netizens are all praise for the Joyland team.
Such a moment of pride to see #Joyland receive a standing ovation at Cannes, and the immense praise its received.
The doors this will open, the strength this will give to the new wave of Pakistani cinema. Just – wow.
Congratulations to the entire team.
Can't 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 to watch.— Osman Khalid Butt 🇵🇸 (@aClockworkObi) May 24, 2022
Not only represent Pakistan but also offered a more progressive representation that the average Pakistani film. Joyland cast Alina Khan, a transgender actress, as one of the protagonists
For some this was a silver lining after a series of unfortunate turns.
In the middle of climate, political and economic chaos in the country, #joyland’s reception at #Cannes2022 has brightened my day! Bravo! Can’t wait to watch it!
— Qudsia Shah (@QnShah) May 24, 2022
People even threw shade at Pakistani filmmakers that complained about competition from Western flick Dr. Strange in the Madness of the Multiverse.
https://twitter.com/guldaar/status/1528805088365617152
Then there was the matter of censoring good films in Pakistan. Like how Pakistan’s submission for the Oscars in 2021, Zindagi Tamasha wasn’t even screened in the country.
So proud of team #joyland. I hope this is a film we get to see on Pakistani screens as well as global OTT platforms. I’ve yet to see #ZindagiTamasha, here’s hoping our censors can get out of the way of Pakistani artists once and for all so the latter can scale new heights. https://t.co/EsYtDQ6iXF
— Maria Amir 🍉 (@Beentherella) May 23, 2022
More About Joyland
Directed by Saim Sadiq, Joyland is one of the few Pakistani films that made it to Cannes. In the past, Shamoon Ababsi’s Durj made it to the global film festival. As well Pakistani film Wakhri which is a Qandeel Baloch biopic.
The Joyland cast includes some more famed stars like Sania Saeed, Sarwat Gilani, Salman Peerzada, Ali Junejo, and Rasti Farooq.
So what is the film about? The Hollywood Reporter described the movie as;
“A family saga, one that Sadiq uses to observe how gender norms constrict, & then asphyxiate, individuals. What happens to them — individually & collectively — is a process that Sadiq’s film chronicles with aching consideration.”
Is this a film you would look forward to seeing in theaters? Let us know in the comments below.
