Recently released for non-festival audiences, “The People’s Joker,” a satire by Vera Drew steeped heavily in Batman references, navigates the tension between creative freedom and corporate control. The film had a bumpy path to wider distribution, thanks to threats from Warner Bros, which led to its limited debut at the 2022 TIFF’s Midnight Madness premiere.
“The People’s Joker” focuses not just on political commentary, but is also a personal narrative. Vera Drew, a New York-based trans comedienne and underground comic artist uses the world of Batman as a backdrop to channel her life story and experiences with gender dysphoria. The narrative follows Drew’s move to Gotham City and her attempt to fit into the society, failing in her auditions and finally finding solace in the creation of an “anti-comedy” platform with like-minded villains.
The journey shared in the film is raw and untamed, taking the audience from one unpredictable scene to another, mimicking the sporadic mind of 'Joker.' Despite its messy and amateurish nature, the anti-comedy works to the film’s benefit, playing with the audience’s expectations, and presenting a new view of the comedy world. The Batman references, drawn from various Batman stories and eras add a familiar touch to the film's unique narrative.
Despite a smaller budget, “The People’s Joker” visually impresses through a colorful blend of animation styles. Drew commissioned hundreds of artists to create the animation which brings something new and unpredictable to the film. The film is a collaboration of outsiders, creating a art that feels true to its roots.
“The People’s Joker” reshapes the superhero cinema scene. It leverages the domain of comic books, often about masks and dual identities, to authentically represent the journey of trans and nonbinary people in discovering their own identities. In an era of mass-produced superhero films, this innovative, satirical take is a breath of fresh air. The film truly is a cinematic act of rebellion, and perhaps it’s time for a new clown to take over.
