Darius Muglich

Joker: Folie à Deux has little bearing to the Joker you would find in most comic book adaptations, or the Arkham games. This movie is a character study of Arthur Fleck, a deeply troubled, depressed and unstable man. The musical numbers illustrate his dissociation and escapism from a reality that rejects him. He observes that the only way people begin to accept him is when he plays the "Joker" character that spawned from his manic episodes. However, he eventually realizes that playing Joker is not who he wants to be, and that playing this character is a betrayal to his authentic self. When he rejects the box of Joker that people try to put him in, everyone, including seemingly the movie audience, turn on him. On one hand, this movie is a clear commentary on mental health. On the other, the audience can relate to the many different masks they themselves put on throughout their lives to fit in and to be accepted. However, to be accepted whilst wearing a mask is different than being seen.