Joyland by Saim Sadiq (Pakistan)

During Asian Heritage Month, Kulea Culture Society presents Stories from the Silk Roads, a four-day event of music and film to celebrate the rich heritage of Canadians with roots in the Asian continent. 

Joyland explores the many sides of love and desire in a patriarchal society. Gentle and timid, Haider (Ali Junejo) lives with his wife Mumtaz (Rasti Farooq), his father, and his elder brother’s family in Lahore, Pakistan. Following a long spell of unemployment, Haider finally lands a job at a Bollywood-style burlesque, telling his family he is a theater manager, when in actuality, he is a backup dancer. The unusual position shakes up the steadfast traditional dynamics of his household and enables Haider to break out of his shell. As he acclimates to the new job, Haider becomes infatuated with the strong-willed trans woman Biba (Alina Khan) who runs the show—an unforeseen partnership that opens his eyes and ultimately his worldview, in ways both unexpected and intimate.

Winner- 2022 Cannes Film Festival - Queer Palm - 2022 Cannes Film Festival

Host or Publisher Kulea Culture Society