Filmmaker Saim Sadiq returns to the world of theater, that he explored in his 2019 Venice and SXSW winner Darling, with his feature debut, Joyland. The film premiered at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard strand. The title, the first Pakistani film to be selected in Cannes, vied for the Caméra d’Or.
Pictures of the Saim and his team went viral on social media as the Pakistani stars arrived at Cannes, dressed in summer colours for the official photocall. Actor Sarwat Gilani shared sneak peeks of the event on her Instagram. The photos of the team were also shared on the official Instagram page of Festival de Cannes.
It is indeed a moment of pride and celebration to see Pakistanis walk on the coveted red carpet, representing a Pakistani title for the first time in history. It is equally significant to make a sartorial statement at the film festival which is known for its star sightings and head-turning looks.
Team Joyland included filmmaker Saim Sadiq, director Sana Jafri, producer Apoorva Charan and actors Sarwat Gilani, Sania Saeed, Ali Junejo, Alina Khan and Rasti Farooq. The team tried different looks, and despite a clash of colours and silhouettes, some pieces stood out better than the others. Though colour-coordination wasn’t necessary, the group photos appeared to be a mix of eastern and western styles.
In the first photocall, Sarwat Gilani kept it simple and played safe with a white dress by Sania Maskatiya. The outfit that Sarwat donned before her official red carpet walk was more appealing. She posted a picture in Umar Sayeed Couture, featuring a white top with laces and pleats, paired with embroidered bell bottoms in bright hues.
Saim looked smart and chic in a pink suit and white joggers. Rasti Farooq and Ali Junejo opted for twinning in grey suits, however Rasti’s colurful floral embroidery over the jacket complemented by a plain white shirt inside was a winner. Ali added a stole with geometrical motifs like an Ajrak. Sania Saeed’s first attempt to take Pakistani design to Cannes with a floral print ft. a deep blue shirt and red wide-legged trousers by The Pink Tree Company didn’t hit the bullseye.
Like several awards shows where stars confuse glamorous looks with wedding glam, the disarray continued here. Alina Khan wore pink blouse with a big butterfly motif over a yellow sharara with pink paint splatters, an odd choice to say the least. Apoorva Charan’s bright pink top with frills and Sana Jafri’s lilac outfit didn’t leave an impression.
However, it seems that the Joyland team got at least a right memo the second time, taking the fashion game up a notch. The outfits were a little more coordinated with bowties, tuxedos and a fusion of Eastern glam.
Sania wore a bottle green gharara, Alina opted for a classic red and gold sari, Sarwat donned a green shimmery long kameez with a tight bun. Apoorva chose a metallic green dress with a twisted cinch on the waist, while Sana Jafri wore a striped dress in different shades of green. Rasti Farooq’s embellished purple outfit was eye-catching, but we’re not so sure about those leggings. The men stepped up as well with their tuxedos and bow-ties. The over-all style vibe wasn’t up to the mark, in fact it was quite disappointing, especially considering the expertise of our local designers.
According to Variety, Joyland is the tale of sexual revolution; it shows a patriarchal family yearn for the birth of a baby boy to continue the family line, while their youngest son secretly joins an erotic dance theater and falls for an ambitious transsexual starlet.
