Saim Sadiq’s Cannes-winning “Joyland” has been banned by the Pakistani government for containing “highly objectionable” material. Terming the ban a “grave injustice,” Sadiq, in an Instagram post, says that the ban is “absolutely unconstitutional and illegal” and is pleading for a reversal. “Joyland” was supposed to be released in Pakistan on Nov. 18.
Coincidentally, “Joyland” actually managed to be Pakistan’s official Oscar submission for the Best International Film category. So, go figure. Maybe this ban will politicize voters to push it towards the next round of voting aka the Oscar shortlist of fifteen films. More than 92 countries submitted a film for the category, “Joyland” was always a serious contender to make it to the next round.
Set in Lahore, Pakistan, “Joyland” has its main protagonist, a family man, joining an erotic dance theater and falling in love with a trans starlet. Gender ideology is obviously a very controversial and taboo topic in a vast amount of countries around the world, especially in Islamic-run states.
Now the Streisand Effect comes into the equation. The more people try and censor a particular film, the more people will want to watch that said film. Now you probably have Oscar voters scouring through their schedules to see when the next AMPAS screening of “Joyland” will be taking place in Los Angeles.
Edward Berger seems to have settled on what comes next. His Lance Armstrong biopic, starring Austin Butler, is now holding casting calls, with production eyed for January.