Joanne screens at the Deutsches Filmmuseum in Frankfurt, as part of Lichter Filmfest.

In a world where full self-disclosure is the hallmark of authenticity, Joanne realises she must meet her public’s demands. But when authenticity and fantasy are prized in equal measure on the public stage, and specifically on social media, which new mask should she adopt?

Transparently manipulative but also genuinely moving, Joanne (the film) does not pretend to portray Joanne the woman. What it does do is hint that the faith we place in the power of the image to project us, transform us or redeem us is often illusory. But keeping faith that it can still work its magic is, for many, still the name of the game.