GAZE: The People’s Joker (+ Pre-Feature Short)

CLUB 18+135 min

FEATURE:

The People’s Joker Dir. Vera Drew USA, 2022 1h 32m

'We're the Jokers of the daughters... We're the daughters of the Jokers you couldn't burn?' Welcome to Gotham City, where you're either a jokeman or a harlequin. Comedy is a controlled substance and Smylex addictions are rising. But one rebellious, unfunny, transgender clown called Joker is ready to fight the system—just as soon as she legally changes her name, finally creates a good comedy act, and deals with her toxic boyfriend, Jared Leto's Joker. Cut short in its 2022 festival run but kept alive by word of mouth and secret screenings, this feature debut from Emmy-nominated editor and jester visionary Vera Drew brings a bombastic mix of anti-comedy, animation and transsexual clowns, made with the help of over 100 artists and with zero authorisation from DC Comics. Fun, frenetic and fair use!

Last year we were devastated that our screening of The People’s Joker had to be cancelled at the last moment, but we persevered and are thrilled to present this future cult queer classic in all its glory for 2023.

The screening will be followed by an in-conversation with Director Vera Drew. Presented in partnership with the Small Trans Library.

PRE-FEATURE SHORT:

HORMONAL Dir. Maz Murray / UK / 2023 / 12m

When three trans people in a small town in Essex get ripped off by their DIY testosterone supplier, they must come together to undertake a daring hormone heist in this working-class, neo-noir flight of fancy.