The People's Joker

A hilarious and loving pastiche of the Batman comics and DC universe as a whole, this debut feature from writer/director/editor Vera Drew (who also stars in it) reimagines the coming-out story from the perspective of the famously chaotic and meme-worthy villain of its title. Loosely autobiographical, playfully experimental in its blend of comic-book animation and live-action, and deeply personal without wading into the sentimentality of the coming-out genre, The People’s Joker is a rallying cry for self-determination, embodiment, and transition as acts of rebellion in a media and political environment that would box it, its characters, and its audience into a tidy, consumable box. More vivid and awe-inspiring than the sum of its parts, this film must be seen to be believed. (Outfest Los Angeles)