"Das Gelächter des Jokers habe er (Phoenix) gemeinsam mit dem Regisseur über mehrere Monate erarbeitet, auch wenn Phoenix diese Zusammenarbeit als sehr unangenehm empfand. Phillips unterteilte Jokers Gelächter später in drei Modulationen: das „Elend-Gelächter“ („affliction laugh“), die „einer unter vielen“-Lache („one of the guys laugh“) und das finale Gelächter aus „authentischer Freude“ heraus („authentic joy“)." Ariston Anderson: Joaquin Phoenix Explains Why His 'Joker' Laugh Is „Something That's Almost Painful“. In: The Hollywood Reporter, 31. August 2019. Abgerufen am 6. September 2019 Wikipedia

Szenen, in denen Arthur einen Lachanfall bekommt:
1. während einer Sitzung bei seiner Psychologin
2. während einer Zugfahrt (drei Männer belästigen eine Frau an. Arthur bekommt einen Lachanfall und wikrd daraufhin zusammengeschlagen. Er erschießt die drei.)
3. auf der Bühne im Rahmen seines ersten Auftrittes vor Publikum
4. beim Lesen der Krankenakte seiner Mutter

Aus dem Anfang des Drehbuchs, in dem von "fits of laughter" die Rede ist.

JOKER. An origin, written by Todd Phillips & Scott Silver, 13 April 2018

This story takes place in its own universe. It has no
connection to any of the DC films that have come before it.
We see it as a classic Warner Bros. movie. Gritty, intimate
and oddly funny, the characters live in the real world and
the stakes are personal.
Although it is never mentioned in the film, this story takes
place in the past.
Let's call it 1981.
It's a troubled time. The crime rate in Gotham is at record
highs. A garbage strike has crippled the city for the past
six weeks. And the divide between the "haves" and the "havenots"
is palpable. Dreams are beyond reach, slipping into
delusions.
TP/SS
OVER BLACK:
HEAR LAUGHTER.
The sound of a man totally cracking up.
FADE IN:
INT. DEPT. OF HEALTH, 1 OFFICE - MORNING 1
CLOSE ON JOKER (30's), tears in his eyes from laughing so
hard. He's trying to get it under control. His greasy, black
hair is matted down. He's wearing an old, faded red hooded
zip-up sweatshirt, a threadbare gray scarf, thin from years
of use, hangs loosely around his neck.
WE NOTICE TWO FADED OLD SCARS cut at the corners of his
mouth. Almost forming a smile.
He's sitting across from an overworked SOCIAL WORKER (50's),
African American. Her office is cramped and run-down in a
cramped and run-down building. Stacks of folders piled high
in front of her.
She just sits behind her desk, waiting for his laughing fit
to end, she's been through this before. Finally it subsides.
Joker takes a deep breath, pauses to see if it's over.
Beat.
JOKER
--is it just me, or is it getting
crazier out there?
Despite the laughter, there's real pain in his eyes.
Something broken in him. Looks like he hasn't slept in days.
SOCIAL WORKER
It's certainly tense. People are
upset, they're struggling. Looking
for work. The garbage strike seems
like it's been going on forever.
These are tough times.
(then)
How 'bout you. How's the job? Still
enjoying it?
JOKER
Yeah, I mean, it's different each
day, so I really like that. I don't
think I could ever work in an
office. Behind a desk.
(MORE)
(beat)
No offense.
She smiles. Writes something down. Looks at the clock, she's
running late for her next appointment.
SOCIAL WORKER
Have you been keeping up with your
journal?
JOKER
Everyday.
SOCIAL WORKER
Great. Did you bring it with you?
Beat.
JOKER
(dodging the subject)
I'm sorry. Did I bring what?
SOCIAL WORKER
(impatient; she doesn't
have time for this)
Arthur, last time I asked you to
bring your journal with you. For
these appointments. Do you have it?
JOKER
Yes ma'am.
Beat.
SOCIAL WORKER
Can I see it?
He reluctantly reaches into his bag. Pulls out a weathered
notebook. Slides it across to her--
JOKER
I've been using it as a journal,
but also a joke diary. Funny
thoughts or, or observations-- Did
I tell you I'm pursuing a career in
stand-up comedy?
She's half-listening as she flips through his journal.
SOCIAL WORKER
No. You didn't.
JOKER
I think I did.
JOKER (CONT’D)
2.
She doesn't respond, keeps flipping through his journal--
SOCIAL WORKER
Oh yeah. Because of what your
mother said,-- about your purpose.
"To bring laughter and joy to the
world," right?
JOKER
Right.
ANGLE ON JOURNAL, pages and pages of notes, all in neat,
angry-looking handwriting. Also, cut out photos from hardcore
pornographic magazines and some crude handmade drawings.
A flash of anger crosses Joker's face. We see him picking at
his right eyebrow, almost obsessively. Trying to stay calm.
His eyebrow is actually half-gone. Something he does a lot.
JOKER
I didn't realize you wanted to read
it.
The social worker gives him a look, then reads something in
the pages that gives her pause.
SOCIAL WORKER
(reading out loud)
"I just hope my death makes more
sense than my life."
She looks up at Joker. He just stares back. Lets it hang out
there for a beat.
Then he laughs a little, even though he doesn't think it's
funny--
JOKER
Yeah. I mean, that's just--
SOCIAL WORKER
Does my reading it upset you?
He leans in.
JOKER
No. I just,-- some of it's
personal. You know?
SOCIAL WORKER
I understand. I just want to make
sure you're keeping up with it.
She slides his journal back to him. He holds it in his lap.
3.
SOCIAL WORKER
What about your mom? How's she
feeling?
JOKER
She has good days. But mostly bad.
It's been a big help having me
there. She really needs me.
SOCIAL WORKER
Seems like she's been sick a lot
since you got home.
JOKER
(nods)
Yeah, it's good I'm there. When I
was in the hospital, after my last
episode-- she was having trouble
getting over there to visit.
She looks back up at the clock, she needs to get to her next
appointment.
SOCIAL WORKER
All right. So, I'll see you again,
two weeks from today?
He nods. But keeps sitting there for a moment.
She stands up, trying to signal it's time for him to leave--
SOCIAL WORKER
Is there something else I can help
you with, Arthur? My next
appointment is waiting.
He just keeps sitting there.
JOKER
Yeah, I was wondering if you could
ask the doctor to increase the
dosage on my medications? Nothing
seems to make a difference.
SOCIAL WORKER
(looking over his record)
Do you know which ones you'd like
increased?
Shakes his head, no.
SOCIAL WORKER
Have you been sleeping?
4.
JOKER
(lying)
Some.
She glances at his file again.
SOCIAL WORKER
Arthur, you're on seven different
medications. Surely they must be
doing something.
He finally stands up. Zips up his faded red sweatshirt.
Looks at her--
JOKER
I just don't wanna feel so bad
anymore.
CUT TO BLACK: TITLE: JOKER

English
Plot:
Arthur Fleck - a penniless marginal figure from Gotham Citty - is looking for a better perspective of hir live - with the hope of fame. During the day he works as a party clown, at night he performs as a bajazzo. Fascinated by the show of talk show master Murray Franklin, he applies for it, but shoots him on the open scene when he feels ridiculed. Since childhood, he has suffered bursts of laughing ilike fits when he is under stress. His psychotic mother lives in a psychiatric institution. Arthur also ends up there after being involved in the demonstrations of protesters masked as clowns. After talking to one of the psychiatrists he apparently murders him and escapes.

Comment:
The film tells how a disregarded and abused citizen of the psychotic city of Gotham Citty becomes the figure of the Joker, which belongs to the inventory of the Batman films.

"The laughter of the Joker he (Phoenix) worked on together with the director over several months, even though Phoenix found this collaboration very unpleasant. Phillips later divided Joker's laughter into three modulations: the "affliction laugh," the "one of the guys laugh," and the final laugh of "authentic joy. Ariston Anderson: Joaquin Phoenix Explains Why His 'Joker' Laugh Is "Something That's Almost Painful". In: The Hollywood Reporter, August 31, 2019. accessed September 6, 2019 Wikipedia

Scenes in which Arthur gets a laughing fit:
1. during a session with his psychologist
2. during a train ride (three men harassing a woman. Arthur gets a laughing fit and gets beaten up. He shoots the three men).
3. on stage during his first performance in front of an audience
4. while reading his mother's medical file

From the beginning of the script, which speaks of "fits of laughter".

JOKER. An origin, written by Todd Phillips & Scott Silver, 13 April 2018

This story takes place in its own universe. It has no
connection to any of the DC films that have come before it.
We see it as a classic Warner Bros. movie. Gritty, intimate
and oddly funny, the characters live in the real world and
the stakes are personal.
Although it is never mentioned in the film, this story takes
place in the past.
Let's call it 1981.
It's a troubled time. The crime rate in Gotham is at record
highs. A garbage strike has crippled the city for the past
six weeks. And the divide between the "haves" and the "havenots"
is palpable. Dreams are beyond reach, slipping into
delusions.
TP/SS
OVER BLACK:
HEAR LAUGHTER.
The sound of a man totally cracking up.
FADE IN:
INT. DEPT. OF HEALTH, 1 OFFICE - MORNING 1
CLOSE ON JOKER (30's), tears in his eyes from laughing so
hard. He's trying to get it under control. His greasy, black
hair is matted down. He's wearing an old, faded red hooded
zip-up sweatshirt, a threadbare gray scarf, thin from years
of use, hangs loosely around his neck.
WE NOTICE TWO FADED OLD SCARS cut at the corners of his
mouth. Almost forming a smile.
He's sitting across from an overworked SOCIAL WORKER (50's),
African American. Her office is cramped and run-down in a
cramped and run-down building. Stacks of folders piled high
in front of her.
She just sits behind her desk, waiting for his laughing fit
to end, she's been through this before. Finally it subsides.
Joker takes a deep breath, pauses to see if it's over.
Beat.
JOKER
--is it just me, or is it getting
crazier out there?
Despite the laughter, there's real pain in his eyes.
Something broken in him. Looks like he hasn't slept in days.
SOCIAL WORKER
It's certainly tense. People are
upset, they're struggling. Looking
for work. The garbage strike seems
like it's been going on forever.
These are tough times.
(then)
How 'bout you. How's the job? Still
enjoying it?
JOKER
Yeah, I mean, it's different each
day, so I really like that. I don't
think I could ever work in an
office. Behind a desk.
(MORE)
(beat)
No offense.
She smiles. Writes something down. Looks at the clock, she's
running late for her next appointment.
SOCIAL WORKER
Have you been keeping up with your
journal?
JOKER
Everyday.
SOCIAL WORKER
Great. Did you bring it with you?
Beat.
JOKER
(dodging the subject)
I'm sorry. Did I bring what?
SOCIAL WORKER
(impatient; she doesn't
have time for this)
Arthur, last time I asked you to
bring your journal with you. For
these appointments. Do you have it?
JOKER
Yes ma'am.
Beat.
SOCIAL WORKER
Can I see it?
He reluctantly reaches into his bag. Pulls out a weathered
notebook. Slides it across to her--
JOKER
I've been using it as a journal,
but also a joke diary. Funny
thoughts or, or observations-- Did
I tell you I'm pursuing a career in
stand-up comedy?
She's half-listening as she flips through his journal.
SOCIAL WORKER
No. You didn't.
JOKER
I think I did.
JOKER (CONT’D)
2.
She doesn't respond, keeps flipping through his journal--
SOCIAL WORKER
Oh yeah. Because of what your
mother said,-- about your purpose.
"To bring laughter and joy to the
world," right?
JOKER
Right.
ANGLE ON JOURNAL, pages and pages of notes, all in neat,
angry-looking handwriting. Also, cut out photos from hardcore
pornographic magazines and some crude handmade drawings.
A flash of anger crosses Joker's face. We see him picking at
his right eyebrow, almost obsessively. Trying to stay calm.
His eyebrow is actually half-gone. Something he does a lot.
JOKER
I didn't realize you wanted to read
it.
The social worker gives him a look, then reads something in
the pages that gives her pause.
SOCIAL WORKER
(reading out loud)
"I just hope my death makes more
sense than my life."
She looks up at Joker. He just stares back. Lets it hang out
there for a beat.
Then he laughs a little, even though he doesn't think it's
funny--
JOKER
Yeah. I mean, that's just--
SOCIAL WORKER
Does my reading it upset you?
He leans in.
JOKER
No. I just,-- some of it's
personal. You know?
SOCIAL WORKER
I understand. I just want to make
sure you're keeping up with it.
She slides his journal back to him. He holds it in his lap.
3.
SOCIAL WORKER
What about your mom? How's she
feeling?
JOKER
She has good days. But mostly bad.
It's been a big help having me
there. She really needs me.
SOCIAL WORKER
Seems like she's been sick a lot
since you got home.
JOKER
(nods)
Yeah, it's good I'm there. When I
was in the hospital, after my last
episode-- she was having trouble
getting over there to visit.
She looks back up at the clock, she needs to get to her next
appointment.
SOCIAL WORKER
All right. So, I'll see you again,
two weeks from today?
He nods. But keeps sitting there for a moment.
She stands up, trying to signal it's time for him to leave--
SOCIAL WORKER
Is there something else I can help
you with, Arthur? My next
appointment is waiting.
He just keeps sitting there.
JOKER
Yeah, I was wondering if you could
ask the doctor to increase the
dosage on my medications? Nothing
seems to make a difference.
SOCIAL WORKER
(looking over his record)
Do you know which ones you'd like
increased?
Shakes his head, no.
SOCIAL WORKER
Have you been sleeping?
4.
JOKER
(lying)
Some.
She glances at his file again.
SOCIAL WORKER
Arthur, you're on seven different
medications. Surely they must be
doing something.
He finally stands up. Zips up his faded red sweatshirt.
Looks at her--
JOKER
I just don't wanna feel so bad
anymore.
CUT TO BLACK: TITLE: JOKER

Stichworte:
Anfallsereignis, Expertenhinweis, Gewaltkontext, , Hauptrolle, komplexer Anfall

Genre:
Horror