The hottest fair use superhero film of 2024 finally comes to the Rivoli!
In this razor sharp parody, writer/director Vera Drew plays a familiar looking criminal/comedian, one who is grappling with her gender identity as well as her ability to make a crowd laugh. But when this clown-princess-of-crime forms a new anti-comedy troupe with an unconventional friend, she finds herself battling a fascistic caped crusader in a world that just doesn’t get the joke.
Hailed by critics as “the best superhero movie I've ever seen,” (Richard Brody, The New Yorker) and “a sharp DC parody delightfully crossed with a trans coming-of-age story” (Jourdain Searles, The Hollywood Reporter), The People’s Joker skirts the lines of legality, using video clips and content from licensed characters to craft a film that is truly one of a kind. After over two years of scattered festival appearances, secret screenings, and waiting to see if Warner Brothers would issue a cease-and-desist, the film's creators (and legal team) finally felt secure enough to give The People’s Joker proper theatrical distribution. And now that it’s out in the world, the film is drawing sellout crowds across the country, creating word-of-mouth buzz and debate everywhere it goes. Featuring cameos by alt-comedy favorites like Tim Heidecker, Bob Odenkirk, Maria Bamford, and Scott Auckerman (to name a few), The People’s Joker also takes aim at the overly masculine, cis-hetero-dominante culture of American comedy.
So join us on Thursday, July 25th for a special one night only presentation of this monumental film, featuring a camp-filled Batman happy hour and post-film Q&A featuring The People’s Joker co-writer (and Wisconsin resident) Bri LeRose, hosted by the La Crosse Film Academy!
Please note - this event is 18+ ONLY, and children will not be admitted to this show.
Event Details:
6PM - Doors open for a campy Batman happy hour
7PM - The People’s Joker with a short introduction and post-film Q&A with co-writer Bri LeRose, hosted by the La Crosse Film Academy
SYNOPSIS:
A law-breaking comedian grappling with her gender identity forms a new anti-comedy troupe with a friend and finds herself battling a fascistic caped crusader.