Joyland
by Saim Sadiq
Queer Palm · Cannes 2022
Out of Competition 2022
Official synopsis
In Lahore, Haider and his wife live with his brother's entire family. In this household in which everyone lives under the scrutiny of others, Haider is asked to find a job and to become a father. The day he gets a job in a cabaret, he falls under the spell of Biba, a sensual and magnetic dancer. As feelings develop between them, Haider finds himself torn between the injunctions weighing on him and the irresistible call of freedom.
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The programmer’s eye
“Joyland” penetrates Haider's daily life with absolute gentleness, despite the darkness of its sophisticated cinematography. In this first feature film, Pakistani director Saim Sadiq reflects on the predetermined roles within the couple, the family sphere but also the working world. And he destroys everything in his path. While it seems to follow Haider's trajectory - a moving character who explores her femininity with passion - the film “uses” him to better look at the two women around him, both of whom are driven by professional accomplishment. “Joyland” is a drama of remarkable dramatic scope featuring exceptional actors.
Laura Pertuy (in Trois Couleurs)
Biography and Filmography
With a BA in Anthropology from Lahore University of Management Sciences and an MA in Directing from Columbia, Saim Sadiq first directed “Darling” (2019), which was the first short film to be screened at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film. His previous short film “Nice Talking to You” (2018) was also acclaimed. “Joyland” (2022) was the first ever Pakistani feature film to be selected in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival. He’s currently writing the film adaptation of Jamie Ford's best-selling “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet”.
2022 : JOYLAND - Saim Sadiq - Director and Screenwriter
2019 : DARLING (SHORT) - Saim Sadiq - Director and Screenwriter
2018 : NOWHERE (SHORT) - Saim Sadiq - Director and Screenwriter
2018 : NICE TALKING TO YOU (SHORT) - Saim Sadiq - Director and Screenwriter
2017 : PASBAN (THE CARETAKER) (SHORT) - Saim Sadiq - Director
2016 : BLACKBIRD (SHORT) - Saim Sadiq - Director and Screenwriter
2015 : THE LETTERS OF MIKAEL MUHAMMAD (SHORT) - Saim Sadiq - Director and Screenwriter
2014 : STEPMOTHERLAND (SHORT) - Saim Sadiq - Director and Screenwriter
Saim Sadiq, Maggie Briggs
Ali Junejo, Alina Khan, Rasti Farooq…
Apoorva Charan, Sarmad Khoosat, Lauren Mann
Condor Distribution
by Saim Sadiq
With a BA in Anthropology from Lahore University of Management Sciences and an MA in Directing from Columbia, Saim Sadiq first directed “Darling” (2019), which was the first short film to be screened at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film. His previous short film “Nice Talking to You” (2018) was also acclaimed. “Joyland” (2022) was the first ever Pakistani feature film to be selected in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival. He’s currently writing the film adaptation of Jamie Ford's best-selling “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet”.
2022 : JOYLAND - Saim Sadiq - Director and Screenwriter
2019 : DARLING (SHORT) - Saim Sadiq - Director and Screenwriter
2018 : NOWHERE (SHORT) - Saim Sadiq - Director and Screenwriter
2018 : NICE TALKING TO YOU (SHORT) - Saim Sadiq - Director and Screenwriter
2017 : PASBAN (THE CARETAKER) (SHORT) - Saim Sadiq - Director
2016 : BLACKBIRD (SHORT) - Saim Sadiq - Director and Screenwriter
2015 : THE LETTERS OF MIKAEL MUHAMMAD (SHORT) - Saim Sadiq - Director and Screenwriter
2014 : STEPMOTHERLAND (SHORT) - Saim Sadiq - Director and Screenwriter