Why The People's Joker is a compelling take on one of cinema's most iconic villains
Josie Riesman explains why The People’s Joker is more than just another comic book movie
The Joker is one of the most iconic villains of all time. Some of Hollywood's best actors have played The Joker, including Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix.
Filmmaker Vera Drew gave DC Universe fans a new take on The Joker with her film The People's Joker — a dark and empathetic coming of age story about a trans woman called Joker The Harlequin.
Drew shot The People's Joker in the span of five days, guerilla style, with a tiny budget. She's also the star, co-writer and editor of the film.
The movie premiered at TIFF in 2022 and was released in theaters earlier this month.
To explain why The People's Joker is the most compelling take on an iconic comic book villain, freelance reporter and essayist Josie Riesman joins host Elamin Abdelmahmoud on Commotion.
We've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion, plus a chat about the competitive comedy showcase podcast Kill Tony, listen and follow the Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud podcast on your favourite podcast player.
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You can listen to the full discussion from today's show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.
Panel produced by Jane van Koeverden