(Pakistan/U.S., 2022) Directed by Saim Sadiq, 126 min., subtitled, not rated

Joyland explores the many sides of love and desire in a patriarchal society. Gentle and timid, Haider lives with his wife Mumtaz, his father, and his elder brother’s family in Lahore, Pakistan. Following a long spell of unemployment, gentle and timid 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.

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