Joyland

Patriarchy as a knife cutting through a cross-section of a society in transition, neon-soaked desire around every corner. Perhaps the best encapsulation of the concept of "social construction," where oppression is not a visible symbol but comes from an internal accumulation of shame and repression and self-policing within all of us. Where Joyland excels is in giving space for all of its characters to be their own protagonist all at once. The ensemble cast all do a remarkable job of capturing interiority with limited dialogue (which makes the monologues hit even harder), and Saim Sadiq's empathy and construction of a well-realized and grounded yet expressionistic world is Sean Baker-esque. Easily the best of the year so far.