Sightlines · reception

How Joyland was received

2022 · Saim Sadiq · Joyland on Sightlines

The arc

Premiered at Cannes 2022 as the first Pakistani film ever in the festival's official selection, winning the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize and the Queer Palm — then got banned in its own country weeks before release. The ban was partially reversed after an international outcry (Punjab kept it), and it's since settled in as the landmark of new Pakistani cinema.

What’s debated

Fans still argue over its center of gravity: is it a groundbreaking trans story, or a film that ultimately sidelines Biba to focus on a cis man's crisis — beloved abroad while contested at home?

Its footprint

The image of Haider lugging a giant glittering cutout of Biba through the streets became the film's instantly recognizable emblem, and the ban itself turned the movie into a free-expression flashpoint — with Malala Yousafzai signing on as executive producer to champion it worldwide.

Where it stands

A Letterboxd darling and fast-rising entry in the queer-cinema canon — the 'you must see this' pick of 2020s South Asian film.

Did you know? Joyland was banned in Pakistan days before its release — despite being Pakistan's own official Oscar entry — and the government partially reversed the ban after a campaign backed by executive producer Malala Yousafzai; it went on to make the Oscars' Best International Feature shortlist.

Named by the director

• Happy Together (1997) — Sadiq named Wong Kar-wai's film as a visual reference for the romance between Haider and Biba.
• Wong Kar-wai — Cited as the key visual touchstone for the film's love story.
• Satyajit Ray — Sadiq has said Ray had a deep impact on him, calling Charulata one of his favorite films of all time.
• Paul Thomas Anderson — Sadiq called him the best director alive and credited him with shaping the elegance he aims for in every scene.