Pakistan Bans its Oscar Entry Joyland Over Man-Transwoman Love Story

Pakistani filmmaker Saim Sadiq’s critically-acclaimed directorial debut Joyland, the country’s official Oscar entry, has been banned by the ministry of information and broadcasting for its “highly objectionable material” being “repugnant” to “decency and morality”.

The film, which bagged the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize and Queer Palm award at Cannes earlier this year, was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival and won the young cinema award at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) last week, features an ensemble cast of Ali Junejo, Sania Saeed, Alina Khan, Rasti Farooq, Sarwat Gilani, Sohail Sameer and Salmaan Peerzada.

Joyland explores the love story of the youngest son of the patriarchal Rana family Haider, who desperately wants a baby boy to continue the family line and subsequently joins an erotic dance theatre where he falls in love with a fiercely ambitious transwoman.

According to an order issued by the ministry on November 11, the film was awarded a censor certificate on August 17 but the decision was later reversed.

“Written complaints were received that the film contains highly objectionable material which does not conform to the social values and moral standards of our society and is clearly repugnant to the norms of decency and morality as laid down in Section 9 of the Motion Picture Ordinance, 1979,” the order reads.

Declaring the movie “uncertified”, the order further reads: “Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 9(2) (a) of the said Ordinance and after conducting a comprehensive inquiry, the federal government declares the feature film titled Joyland as an uncertified film for the whole of Pakistan in the cinemas which fall under the jurisdiction of CBFC with immediate effect.”

Welcoming the ban, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, the only senator of hard-line Jamaat-e-Islami in the Pakistan Senate, tweeted: 
“Pakistan is an Islamic country and no law, ideology or activity can be allowed against,” he tweeted in Urdu, PTI reported.

Terming the ban a “grave injustice” and “absolutely unconstitutional and illegal”, Sadiq urged the ministry in an Instagram post to review the decision.

In a Twitter thread, Gilani slammed the ministry for “caving into pressure” from “some malicious people” who are running a “smear campaign” against the movie, which was set for a theatrical release across Pakistan on November 18.

“Shameful that a Pakistani film made by 200 Pakistanis over 6 years that got standing ovations from Toronto to Cairo to Cannes is being hindered in its own country. Don’t take away this moment of pride and joy from our people! #ReleaseJoyland

@MoIB_Official

@GovtofPakistan,” Gilani further tweeted.

In a written statement, APSA praised Sadiq for his “brave and joyous celebration of community diversity and the universality of love”. “Joyland represents a significant new cinematic talent in Saim Sadiq from Pakistan, who has crafted a moving and entertaining drama about family in his debut feature film. The Young Cinema Award Jury commends Saim Sadiq for his brave and joyous celebration of community diversity and the universality of love.”