Pakistan bans film "Joyland", its official Oscar entry over "highly objectionable content" containing queer theme

On November 11, Saim Sadiq’s critically-acclaimed film Joyland got banned in Pakistan by the authorities alleging that it contains “highly objectionable material”, months after a certificate was issued clearing the movie for public viewing. The movie reportedly got a screening certificate from the government on August 17. It was the official entry of Pakistan for the 2023 Oscars.

 

 

It prompted the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to ban the film apparently to avoid a backlash by conservative elements of the country. In its notification of November 11, the ministry said the film does not conform with the country’s “social values and moral standards”.

 

 

"Written complaints were received that the film contains highly objectionable material which do not conform with 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 minister said in the notification.

 

Sadiq’s directorial debut film will compete for a spot in the final five of the best international feature category at the 2023 Academy Awards. In its order, the ministry banned the movie’s screening in the country. The film was scheduled for theatrical release in Pakistan on November 18.

 

"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," the order read.

 

"Joyland" follows a patriarchal family, craving for the birth of a baby boy to continue the family line, while their youngest son secretly joins an erotic dance theatre and falls for a trans woman. Sadiq wrote and directed the film which features an ensemble cast of Sania Saeed, Ali Junejo, Alina Khan, Sarwat Gilani, Rasti Farooq, Salmaan Peerzada and Sohail Sameer.

 

Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, the only senator of hardline Jamaat-e-Islami in the Pakistan Senate, welcomed the government’s decision to ban the film, saying it was against Islam. "Pakistan is an Islamic country and no law, ideology or activity can be allowed against," he tweeted in Urdu.

 

Sarwat Gilani, one of the starcast said, “There’s a paid smear campaign doing rounds against #Joyland, a film that made history for Pakistani cinema, got passed by all censor boards, but now authorities are caving in to pressure from some malicious people who have not even seen the film.”

 

 

“Shameful that a Pakistani film made by 200 Pakistanis over six 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!” she added.