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A young transgender person living in the metropolis of Mumbai often doesn't find a chance to truly reflect on the lives of those like them across the world, with stories untold. Scrolling through echo-chambered lives unfolding across Instagram and Twitter feeds, this film may seem borderline 'cancellable' especially due to the sexualised depictions of trans women and the well-known chaser complex of a man insecure in his confused state of sexual identity. Yet, this slow-paced, two-hour-seven-minute tale unfolds as not only a visually stimulating work of art (something slightly reminiscent of Sergei Parajanov's The Color of Pomegranates) but also a mindful critique of the very real lives of individuals burdened with striking the right balance of societal vs. self-acceptance. A refreshing break from the bombardment of anti-Pakistan films in India, Joyland (from the soils of lahori cinema) presents an alternative narrative that fosters empathy despite its portrayal of imperfect relationships—a narrative that can resonate with anyone who has had to navigate the complexities of family dynamics under a patriarchal society.
Every queer POC who lives near the beach needs to watch this, then go have a nice cry at the beach
Saanu nehar wale pul te bulaake te khore maahi kitthe reh gaya?
(trans.)
Oct 26, 2024
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