Worth Watching: Joyland
A traditional Pakistani home, trapped in its patriarchy, steeped in rich, tender stories, its nooks and crannies swelling with people and their lives, dreams, hopes, frustrations, foils. The youngest son, soft-spoken, gentle-hearted Haider (Ali Junejo), is married to Mumtaz (Rasti Farooq), has no son, has no job, is falling short of all a son is expected to be. He takes a job as a backup erotic dancer at a Bollywood style burlesque, and falls inextricably in love with the headline transgender star of the act, Biba (Alina Khan).
This could be a simple movie, a simple tale about patriarchy and repressed sexuality, about the shame of sexual longing, about the rights and love of trans people. It is that, but it is so much more. Intricate, interwoven stories unfold, each character trying to do right by themselves, live their own life, live up to or reject the expectations of society on them; and the transformative power of these entwined lives is incredible.
There is a gentle non-judgment to it, an intimate care and delicate portrayal of all these characters and their lives. Ali is wonderful as Haider, a nervous wreck of conflict and pressure who's trying to navigate the complexity of his life and feelings. Alina Khan is scintillating as Bibi, powerful, defiant, vulnerable. But Rasti shines brightest, her Mumtaz showing such care and tender acceptance of Haider, the burden of carrying a son, her painful loving relationship with her sister-in-law Nucchi (Sarwat Gilani). The women in this movie are incredible, showing such agency and power, even in the face of devastating tragedy.
This is the very best kind of story, one which settles into your mind and doesn't let go. I watched this movie several months ago, and it still nestles in my soul. A story where you know every beat, but you want to experience it again, like curling into bed with a good book to have a much-needed cry. And through your tears, you'll feel better, uplifted somehow.
