A version of this interview with “Joyland” director Saim Sadiq first appeared in the International Film edition of awards magazine TheWrap.
Newcomer director Saim Sadiq’s tender, raw and locally colored story of Haider, an introverted married man (Ali Junejo) who falls in love with transgender artist Biba (Alina Khan), was the first Pakistani film to be released. at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize and the Queer Palme.
We spoke to Sadiq before Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting banned “Joyland” for “highly objectionable material,” which would have prevented its release in domestic theaters and jeopardized its Oscar eligibility. The review committee of the country’s censorship board did not uphold the ban and gave the film a green light for theatrical release.
How is the film climate in Pakistan?
Making an independent film is, as it is in the United States, very difficult. The total number of movies we make in a year is probably less than 50. But on the other hand, people are so anxious and happy like, “Oh, do you want to shoot at my house? Please come here!” Which is pretty sweet and encouraging. This is a land of over 200 million people with so many stories to tell and so much talent that is absolutely untapped.
While not sexually graphic, the movie is frank about the desire between Haider and Biba. Did you have any run-ins with censorship?
Honestly, no, because when you make your first movie, no one really knows you’re making a movie, so no one pays attention to you. (laughs) But sometimes (the movie board) will just tell you to shorten a scene or remove the profanity. We shot alternatives a certain way to get the point across, but without having to see any kind of graphic kissing etc. I want to give them credit for the fact that they passed it. It was a nice surprise.
Tell us about the casting of your main actors.
Ali (Junejo) is a theater actor. This was his first movie. We found him after a huge six-month casting struggle, where we couldn’t find anyone because he wasn’t the type of character that was going to do any action. He doesn’t even get to have a big climactic matchup, he’s pretty recessive. With Alina (Khan), it was different because she is not a trained actress and a lot of people think that because she is a trans actress, she is playing a version of herself, which is not true. I really need to become really close to the actors and be friends with them, because I think that’s the only way for them to trust me and for me to trust them.
Some international films feel like they were made with the global market in mind, but “Joyland” is refreshingly vivid, free of political correctness or judgment, including a heated moment when Alina’s character unleashes a gay slur on Ali. Was that intentional?
100 percent. If a character says something that’s not right, I need to allow the character to say that on the spot. That is not my endorsement as a human or as a filmmaker of that act. But I can’t do a promo video about good behavior either, you know. The more honest it is, the better it is. I guess that’s the only barometer of cinema.
Read more from the International Cinema edition here.
First-time director Saim Sadiq’s tender, raw and locally colored story of an introverted married man who falls in love with a trans artist
it was the first Pakistani film to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Un Certain Regard jury prize and the Queer Palme.
How is the film climate in Pakistan?
Making an independent film is, as it is in the United States, very difficult. The total number of movies we make in a year is probably less than 50. But on the other hand,
Side, people are so excited and happy, like, “Oh, do you want to shoot at my house? Please come here!” which is quite sweet and encouraging. this is a land
of more than 200 million people with many stories to tell and a lot of absolutely untapped talent.
While not sexually graphic, the movie is frank about the desire between Haider and Biba. Did you have any run-ins with censorship?
Honestly, no, because when you make your first movie, no one really knows you’re making a movie, so no one pays attention to you. (laughs) But
sometimes (the movie board) will just tell you to shorten a scene or remove the profanity. We film alternatives a certain way to get the point across,
but without having to see any kind of graphic kiss, etc. I want to give them credit for the fact that they made it through. it was a pleasure
surprise.
Tell us about the casting of your main actors.
Ali (Junejo) is a theater actor; This was his first movie. We found him after a huge six-month casting struggle, where we couldn’t find anyone.
because he was not the type of character that will do any action. He doesn’t even get to have a big climactic matchup, he’s pretty recessive.
With Alina (Khan), it was different because she’s not a trained actress at all, and a lot of people think that because she’s a trans actress, she’s playing a trans actress.
version of itself, which is not true. I really need to become really close to the actors and be their friend, because I think that’s the only way they
trust me and that I trust them.
Honestly, no, because when you make your first movie, no one really knows you’re making a movie, so no one pays attention to you. (laughs) But
sometimes (the movie board) will just tell you to shorten a scene or remove the profanity. We film alternatives a certain way to get the point across,
but without having to see any kind of graphic kiss, etc. I want to give them credit for the fact that they made it through. it was a pleasure
surprise.
Tell us about the casting of your main actors.
Ali (Junejo) is a theater actor; This was his first movie. We found him after a huge six-month casting struggle, where we couldn’t find anyone.
because he was not the type of character that will do any action. He doesn’t even get to have a big climactic matchup, he’s pretty recessive.
With Alina (Khan), it was different because she’s not a trained actress at all, and a lot of people think that because she’s a trans actress, she’s playing a trans actress.
version of itself, which is not true. I really need to become really close to the actors and be their friend, because I think that’s the only way they
trust me and that I trust them.