Joyland Becomes First Pakistani Film To Release In Japanese Theaters

Saim Sadiq’s “Joyland” will become the first Pakistani film to be released theatrically in Japan on Friday, October 18, 2024. Cetera International, a Japanese movie distribution business, will release the picture in cinemas throughout Japan.

According to rough estimates, the film has made approximately 1.4 million USD globally. The biggest percentage of business came from France, where the picture was released on 100 screens and grossed more than a million dollars. The United States has been the second highest contributor to the business, collecting around $277,000 USD over a ten-week period. The film also grossed £61,461 in the United Kingdom on its initial weekend and 28,973 USD in Spain over two weeks.

“Joyland” is still one of Pakistan’s most celebrated films on the international stage. It had its global premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where it gained a standing ovation and won the “Jury Prize” in the Un Certain Regard section as well as the “Queer Palm Prize.” It remains the first and only Pakistani feature film to be nominated for the Academy Awards’ “Best Foreign Language Film” category.

The story is set in the old city of Lahore, Pakistan, and follows Haider and his wife Mumtaz, who is a makeup artist. He meets Biba, a transsexual lady, and is attracted by her way of living. The film depicts his conflict with conservative/traditional ideals and his desire to live freely and genuinely. Saim Sadiq directs in his feature picture debut, and the cast includes Ali Junejo, Rasti Farooq, and Alina Khan.

The video received criticism from a few conservative groups in Pakistan for “glorifying LGBTQ+ relationships” and including “content that is extremely offensive and clearly opposed to the standards of decency and morality.” As a result, a week before its intended release, the Pakistani authorities prohibited its showing. The restriction was removed three months later, thanks to objections from the director and actors, as well as backing from Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai and British-Pakistani actor Riz Ahmed, both of whom served as executive producers. The film was eventually shown in Pakistan in an edited version.