Although it is not the same as before, but I do watch movies and seasons once the kids are asleep as I consider this my “Me Time”. In the recent years, I have opted for ‘no-brainers’ and ‘easy-on-the-eyes’ stuff because when you are getting old, there is already too much drama going on around you that you don’t feel like watching more of it on the tv. But then again, there are times, when you have to take out your analytical specs and go for some content which is either recommended or has tickled your curiosity. Those movies are good too – in fact they are more enjoyable than the usual lot – given they are able to mark few ticks. With this going behind in my life, I happened to watch “Joy Land” and here goes the review.

Joy land was neither recommended nor had tickled my curiosity bud, it just happened to have found a spot in my watch list. It is a Pakistani movie and revolves around transgenders – a topic really hot these days. When it started, I liked the cinematography – it was very catchy. Watching old cities can never go out of fashion especially if you are using good cameras. The actors were fine, talented and were doing their best but the movie lacked one basic thing – a storyline.

Transgenders are perhaps the most ignored and ‘less-talked-about’ people of our country. It would have been great if the movie had highlighted about their problems at length – either a story is about showcasing misery or hope. But quite unfortunately, it showed none. Other than the main story (whatever it was), the writer was putting some planters here and there, not related to the movie but it didn’t came out subtle. So much so that when it ended, I discussed few occasions with my husband and told him that those incidents were totally out of place.

The movie was about a married man who falls for a transgender – not a progressively developed love to whom you can sympathise with given this is a new phenomena…and for it to be accepted by our rock solid conservative Pakistani society, at least the director should have begged for some humility/sympathy by the audience but no. It wasn’t the case. The transgenders came out quite strong and very well used to this ill-treatment.

Then I do not understand as to why they picked a married man who is quite a loser by every definition of the word. His extra-marital affair costs his wife  her life. Because she couldn’t take it – the disloyalty, the lack of care and love, a life with no direction. And this is where the movie ends.

Now tell me, what is this movie about? A loser man, a suppressed housewife or a transgender who is there for *effing* around. It could have been another woman for the extra marital affair bit and the story would have been just fine.

Transgenders by birth, as I understand, have no mental health issues to begin with. They have a fully functional brain. If educated and given the right direction, they can become doctors and engineers because there is nothing wrong with their mind. They are not on anti-depressants since birth. They are not a threat to the society. All they need is love (read respect and acceptability) – which our society doesn’t have and doesn’t give. Everyone should be resourceful – that’s my point.

And this point should have been, or as I thought, be the crux of this movie- if somebody had, after all, decided to make an Oscar-worthy movie but alas. What a waste of time !

Its not like that I decided to come online just to bash the movie. Actually, as I said, I had an impression that the story might have a spine to take the weight of our complex society but it had nothing. Plus, I felt gross at multiple occasion – that could have been handled well and lastly, it wasted one night of mine that I truly cherish!

Lastly, my disappointment had no bounds when I saw a heavy list of producers – 26 to be exact who were behind this crap. Some big names, not to forget a Nobel laureate – they all had injected their money on a useless thing they called a movie. I wish the director had a story to tell.

Trust me, if this movie is boxed soon then the humanity will still see some good days.

My Score? 1/10. And that 1 goes to the good camera effects and light.