Joyland: Is this the Cycle of Womanhood?

What is a woman but a bearer of life that gets forgotten?

Set in Lahore, Pakistan, Saim Sadiq brings to surface the cycle of womanhood. Although it follows the exploration of love and desire Haider (played by Ali Junejo) discovers for himself, my sympathy does not go out to him so easily. Instead, I cry for the women who have given up their life so men are afforded the privilige to explore. Through lies, selfishness and power, men continue to get what they want out of life, whilst the women become labouerers that help fulfill their desires.

Nucchi:

_{played by Sarwat Gilani}

Pregnant with four children, Nucchi was accustomed to giving birth. In the opening scene, the breaking of her water was almost minimised to a spill. A quick cloth to clean, an offhand summon for her transport to the hospital, whilst delegating to keep the house at ease, Nucchi gave birth to life like clockwork only to be disappointed that it was another daughter. She lays staring blankly at the ceiling knowing exactly how her husband would feel. Treated like a small role to continue the pride lineage of her husband’s, this was her life.

Mumtaz:

_{played by Rasti Farooq}

Employed before her husband, the only condition she had to her marriage was that she could continue her dream as a make up artist; a dangled carrot that was soon taken by her husband so he can “provide” left her purposeless and untended. Struck with the fear of not becoming the woman she yearned to be, she began to question what kind of woman she was meant to be. A wife? a mother? a carer? it seems there is no ocean out there that can keep her dreams afloat. So she sacrificed her own goat so that her husband can eat- this was her life.

Fayyaz:

^{played by Sania Saeed}

Lonely but full of care, Fayyaz was there for Abba whilst his children were deciding which norm they must uphold. Unsure of what she must do after the absence of her own husband, she continues her role by caring for another. With Mumtaz and Nucchi out too late enjoying each other’s company as women, Fayyaz had no choice by to stay the night to care. The next day she was shamed by her own son, whilst Abba, Saleem and Haider embarrassed on her behalf. As her sons point their fingers at her, her fire bites back demanding answers- why didn’t they come pick her up? Why didn’t they wonder about where their mother was in the middle of the night? A powerful scene: Caring for husbands and raising sons only to be forgotten, this was her life.

Biba:

^{played by Alina Khan}

The lady of the moment. Embodying the characteristics of what the other women lack, the fight for her and her trans sisters to exists proudly takes enough space to to capture the curiosity of a man who wished to exist as such. She is bold, she is opinionated and unapologetic of the woman she knows herself to be. However, although her reality forces her to sit on a carriage she does not belong in, she endures the same experiences the other women know too well. In this world, her body is commodified and policed for the pleasures of men. Attempting to attain her dreams, she is sold one from a man who doesn’t fully see her as whole. She is asked to prepare men to perform to their best alongside her, yet they turn on her with ridicule and shame, this was all their lives.

We see all angles of their anguish be played out whilst daughters laugh and play in the background, little do they know that their life has been set from beginning to end. When do the laughs and spirit of our daughters turn into cries and sorrow of their mother’s? and is this the cycle they must all repeat?