Joyland

in Punjabi and Urdu with English Subtitles, 126 minutes

Internationally acclaimed family drama from Pakistan from first time director Saim Sadiq.  Initially banned in its home country upon release for its LGBTQ themes, the director states that their film is “A de-romanticization of a coming-of-age tale and a homage to all the women, men, and trans people who pay the human cost of patriarchy.”

Winner of Un Certain Regard (Jury Prize) and Queer Palm at Cannes and Best International Feature at the 2023 Independent Spirit Awards to name a few of its accolades. 

 “Funny, forward, and bracingly political…Pakistani director Saim Sadiq’s sensuous film mounts an indictment of misogyny and transphobia without ever lecturing us.”
– Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

“Brimming with life and novelistic detail. This is a movie about people who find their inner lives and sense of themselves don’t match up to what is expected of them…a delicate, intelligent and emotionally rich film. What a debut from Sadiq.”
– Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian (UK)

“Wonderful. JOYLAND’s quiet power comes not through melodrama, which Sadiq scrupulously avoids, but its deep affection for its characters.”
– Kaleem Aftab, Time Out