Film Review: Jojo Rabbit

by Nicholas Lemieux

"You're not a Nazi, Jojo. You're a 10-year-old kid who likes dressing up in a funny uniform and wants to be part of a club."

With his outlandish and quirky style of filmmaking, Taika Waititi has rapidly become a favourite director of mine over the last few years, producing hit after hit; What We Do in the Shadows was a hilarious take on the horror genre, sparking a similarly great show and also introducing the world to Stu from IT; Hunt for the Wilderpeople was a charming tale with a poignant message about parents; Thor: Ragnarok just went full-blown Sci-Fi crazy and single-handedly saved the Thor franchise with its bright-coloured insanity. And now his latest project, Jojo Rabbit, has proven to be another home run.

Jojo Rabbit is a comedy-drama set in Nazi Germany towards the end of World War II. It follows Johannes "Jojo" Betzler, a shy boy in the Hitler Youth desperate to become a Nazi and properly fit in amongst his peers. However, his blind nationalism and devotion to his country is tested after he discovers his mother is hiding a Jewish girl called Elsa in their attic. After befriending Elsa, Jojo is forced to question his lifelong beliefs all whilst dealing with the antics and poor advice of his imaginary friend, a cartoony caricature of Adolf Hitler played by Waititi himself.

The basic story of Jojo Rabbit is one of overcoming blind fanaticism and indoctrination, showcasing that monsters aren’t born but made. At the start of the movie, Jojo has already been brainwashed into the Jew-hating fanatic the Nazis expect him to be. However, it’s his interactions with Elsa that allow him to witness firsthand the delusions he has been fed by the Nazi propaganda. The changing appearance of Waititi’s Hitler throughout the film, from a quirky bizarre companion to the screaming hatemonger we know him as, is especially effective as a visual representation of Jojo’s inner turmoil and realisation about what truly matters to him.

The cast is exceptionally strong throughout in portraying the respective quirks of each of their characters. Particularly strong throughout is the actor for Jojo himself, Roman Griffin Davis in his first ever theatrical performance. He nails every single comedic beat and dramatic moment at ease, expertly depicting Jojo’s conflicting ideologies and endearing the audience to the emotional character journey he undertakes. His nomination for a Golden Globe at the age of only 12 is definitely a testament to his performance. Thomasin McKenzie and Scarlett Johansson offer great performances as Elsa and Jojo’s mother, providing Jojo with a more optimistic view on life than the twisted version he was taught. Sam Rockwell also makes for a memorable Army officer disillusioned with the Nazi regime. Even comedian Stephen Merchant, although only in one scene, provides a hilarious yet still thoroughly intimidating turn as a Gestapo agent.

A point of contention among some critics has been the comedic portrayal of the Nazis, many of whom are presented in a buffoonish and excessively over-the-top manner. Admittedly this criticism is not unwarranted and I can definitely understand some may feel uncomfortable with their depiction. However, I personally thought the movie did an efficient job is portraying them as evil fanatics, not shying away from their genuinely horrific acts, whilst still allowing the audience to laugh at their idiotic ideals. The comedy in general is great with Waititi’s Hitler, deplorable as he is, being an especially great source of dark comedy (“can I at least get a hail?”). A touchy subject matter this may be, Jojo Rabbit is still able to pull off jokes like this without coming off as overly offensive, showcasing the skills indeed of the script and direction

Perhaps the movie’s strongest area is its shear dramatic heft which, though not surprising for a film about the Holocaust, still definitely caught me off guard. Although still a comedy, it does not shy away one bit from the atrocities of the Nazi regime, in particular the indoctrination of Germany’s youth into a worldview of hatred, with the rift between Jojo and his open-minded mother providing some powerful drama throughout. Then there came one scene which, without giving anything away, absolutely blindsided me when I first saw it in the cinema. Without any exaggeration, it was probably one of the most devastating gut-punching scenes I have ever seen in any movie, and fair warning it will probably make you cry as well. Eventually, it all culminates in a pitch-perfect ending, equal minds quirky yet beautiful and cathartic in every way. It’s a bit clichéd, but ultimately the film’s message of love always triumphing over hatred,  resonates tremendously and is still very much relevant in today’s world.

Jojo Rabbit isn’t about the Nazis or the countless atrocities they committed. It’s a simple tale of one boy’s journey to reject evil and hatred and let love and compassion take over. Whether it’s making you laugh or cry, it’s just a fantastic film overall and one I would recommend everyone to see. In all honesty, it’s the anti-hate satire we need right now.