Entertainment / Pakistan banned its own official Oscar entry film Joyland for highly offensive things

Zoom News : Nov 13, 2022, 09:45 PM
Entertainment | The film 'Joyland' is the official entry of Pakistan to the Oscars. Its trailer was released on 4 November. The film was about to hit the screens on November 18, but before that the film was banned by Pakistan. The director of 'Joyland' is Saim Sadiq. It has been screened at several foreign film festivals including the Cannes Film Festival. The film was critically acclaimed and also won awards abroad. The Ministry of Information Broadcasting decided to ban the film because of 'highly objectionable things' in it. The film had received the certificate a few months back for public viewing. After that this step was taken.

First given certificate, now banned

On August 17, the Censor Board gave the certificate regarding the screening of the film. There were protests regarding the content of the film, after which the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting banned the film. On November 11, the ministry issued a notification saying, "Written complaints were received that the film contains highly objectionable content which is not in consonance with the values ​​and standards of our society."

Controversy over the story of the film

This is Salim Sadiq's first film as a director. The story of the film shows patriarchy and patriarchal ideas. There is a family which expects a son to be born to its children. The younger son of the family secretly joins an erotic dance theater where he falls in love with a transgender woman. This is where differences arise in the family.

The actress criticized

The film's actress Sarwat Geelani criticized the decision. He tweeted and wrote, 'It is shameful that in 6 years 200 Pakistanis made a film and got standing ovation from Toronto to Cairo and Cannes. Now he is being stopped in his own country. Do not snatch this proud moment of the country.

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