Film: Joyland

Tonight, it was film again - this one was a BFI presentation of Joyland, an Indian film about a young man who joins a burlesque show, and becomes infatuated with the trans lady who runs it. I'm normally suspicious about Indian film, having had some bad experiences - but this trailer looked excellent, so I said I'd risk it. Showing in the Vue Islington - which I booked, for once, as they now have theatre-style seat pricing, different seats in different locations at different prices!

Best place to eat en route seemed to be The Lucas Arms, so I did. Funnily enough, as I waited, the lady behind the bar warned me that they could only take cash at the moment - which was fine, when I do take it out, I take out plenty, for convenience. However, the errant card machines were fixed by the time I actually came to pay! and the food was delicious as ever. The pie crust was strangely soggy, mind - but that didn't affect the flavour.

Of course, I walked it off on the climb to Islington. It's sad, how that walk still reminds me of Civilised London, who host so many dinners up this way - the name, I've since discovered, is a misnomer, of course. The way they treated me, in the end, was hardly civilised at all. But anyway.

I arrived at the cinema in good time, but the screen was already open - in fact, I was the first in. My row did eventually fill up, though - others, like me, taking the furthest seat back for the cheapest possible price. The screen was mostly full, in the end.

And wow, did this film deserve it. It's actually Pakistani, mea culpa.. and this is set in a conservative Muslim family. The younger son, the main subject of the film, feels emasculated - he has no job, but his wife does, and they have no children: unlike his brother and his wife, who have their fourth at the start of the film. All daughters, by the way - ah, the disappointment.. And then his cousin gets him a job in the local "erotic dance" theatre. Ashamed to tell his family he's a dancer, he pretends he's the theatre manager. Unfortunately for his wife, she now has to give up her job - as her sister-in-law complains, who's going to help her with all the housework? They all live together, you see, along with the brothers' father.

To Western eyes, this is going to be infuriating, of course. Religious conservatism abounds - the men are supposed to be the breadwinners. Marriages are arranged, and as mentioned in the film, "it's easier for the boy to say no" [than for the girl]. It's shocking for a woman to spend the night in the house of a family other than her own - regardless of her age. When a widowed neighbour comes to spend time with grandad, and everyone else is out, so there's no-one at the end of the night to walk her home.. what's a widow to do? As she complains to her son, when he comes to see his family's honour restored - well, he didn't exactly notice she was gone till morning, now did he?!

And into all that, we see injected a transsexual dancer. Brave woman. As the relationship between her and our hero grows, she asks him what would happen if he told his family what he really wanted? He replies, "My dad would be planning my funeral. Would you come?" Those are words that will come back to haunt him..

This is a very real, very raw film. Very moving - the trailer didn't offer any false promises. Honestly, this is better than some of the Oscar offerings this year - frankly, it's a travesty that it's not up there. Truly, if you get a chance, go see - this is a film that will haunt me.

Tomorrow, back with TAC for Feel More X Lately, showing at the Lion and Unicorn. This is actually a collection of four short plays, it seems.

Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. Where the choice of films is very limited. Mostly kids' films, in fact. Best for me seems to be What's Love Got to Do with It?, a romcom in which Emma Thompson plays the mother of a young lady whose good friend (of Pakistani heritage, as it happens) decides enough is enough, and he's going to let his parents arrange his marriage. She's a budding filmmaker, and decides this would provide excellent footage for a new documentary. No prizes for guessing how it turns out, I suspect - but it seems harmless enough.

There follows a mostly Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) week. On Monday, back with them for Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, at the Harold Pinter Theatre. This is a rom-com about a couple living in a dystopian state, which limits the number of characters they can speak. Lots of body language then, I guess! Frankly, I was delighted to see that, by the time I booked, the Balcony was sold out - the legroom there is woeful, and good luck to those who've booked up there. The cheapest price bracket left when I booked included some in the Dress Circle - and thanks to Seatplan, I seem to have identified a decent seat among them. Watch this space.. cheapest tickets from the official site, but I booked with From the Box Office, which had tickets at the same price, but without the booking fee.

On Tuesday, my one non-UITCS day next week - back with Over 40 Living the Life, for a dinner at Greenwich Yacht Club. Ooh la la..

Next Wednesday, back with UITCS at the Arcola for Afghanistan is Not Funny, the true story of a British comedian and photographer in war-torn Afghanistan.

On the 2nd, with them again at the Peacock (think I can walk to that!) for Bat Out of Hell, a musical based on the music of Meat Loaf. Awesome - just a pity it isn't one of the singalong nights..

On the 3rd, ending a run of UITCS with Lucrezia Borgia, by the English Touring Opera Company, at the Hackney Empire.

On the 4th, back cat-herding - Ivan suggested that whole day for, well, a lot of drinking. And food - he wanted to go back to O' Neill's. Well, he must have been reading the blog - because the other day, he got in touch. To say that, unfortunately, he can't now make it. My other coworker from that company still can, though - as they've both said, it's been so long since they actually met each other! They can never seem to coordinate..

On the 5th, back with Discover London at last - she does excellent walks, but sometimes they clash, and sometimes they sell out before I get to them! This one is Discover Historic Chelsea: From Quaint to Quant - 1660s to 1960s.

On the 6th, back with - you guessed it - UITCS, for Romeo and Julie, at the Dorfman.

On the 7th - not so much appeals on Meetup. Free Stuff and Free Events does have Free Community Singing with Ros Hone and the Global Fusion Sound Singers, which you can attend on Zoom, or in person at Fossdene School Community Hall. Which sounds just fine - except that this is the sort of thing I keep cancelling! So I'm not confirming until nearer the time.

On the 8th - back with the Crick Crack Club, woohoo! for Goddesses in the Garden, at the Chelsea Physic Garden. Features my favourite, Clare Murphy, along with Sarah Liisa Wilkinson, Laura Sampson, and Xanthe Gresham.

On the 9th, my final booking - for now - with UITCS, for Brilliant Jerks at Southwark Playhouse. And wouldn't you know it, I still had credit on my Pay as you Go subscription, so got it for free! And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.