Joyland is Ilkley Film Society's next screening

In Lahore, Haider and his wife Mumtaz live with Haider's father, brother and sister-in-law. To the disapproval of the family patriarch, Mumtaz goes out to work while the jobless Haider stays at home. When Haider manages to find employment at a dance theatre whose star performer is the transgender Biba, three complications to the life of the family ensue: Haider dare not tell his father he is being employed as a dancer; his father insists that Mumtaz must now give up her job, stay at home and try to produce a male heir; and Haider finds himself becoming attracted to Biba.

While the film society has shown many films from India in its 54 seasons Joyland is the first from Pakistan, a country whose film industry has always been overshadowed by Bollywood. Writer/director Saim Sadiq's feature debut became the first Pakistani film ever to be selected for the Cannes Festival, where it won a major prize, but was initially banned by his own country's Ministry of Information and Broadasting. After protests and a campaign that went all the way up to the Prime Minister the film was released in Pakistan, but only after some censorship cuts. The film society will be screening the film in the form its director intended.

Guests are welcome, as always, but should phone Dave Howell on 01943 430097 or email using the Film Society website to ensure admission. Further information about the film and the rest of the Film Society season can be found at www.ilkleyfilmsociety.org.uk