Film
Film review: Jojo Rabbit
Taika Waititi's satirical comedy manages to be one of the most thought-provoking and disarmingly tender films made on the subject, says Linda Marric
December 31, 2019 11:12
Taika Waititi's satirical comedy manages to be one of the most thought-provoking and disarmingly tender films made on the subject, says Linda Marric
December 31, 2019 11:12A satirical comedy set in Nazi-era Germany and featuring a comedic version of Hitler was always going to come with its own set of issues. However, despite its decidedly darkly comedic and risqué tone, Taika Waititi's Jojo Rabbit manages to be one of the most thought-provoking and disarmingly tender films made on the subject.
Thor: Ragnarok director Waititi – whose mother is of Jewish descent and father is Maori – went on to win a People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2019. The film was later selected to close the UK Jewish Film Festival, which certainly went a long way towards settling any fears over the sensitive nature of its subject.
Opening on a rather daring montage of archival footage of Nazi crowds set to the tune of The Beatles' I Wanna Hold Your Hand, the film centres on Johannes "Jojo" Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis), a ten year old Hitler Youth member living in Nazi Germany with his mother Rosie (an excellent Scarlett Johansson).
Indoctrinated by his peers to hate Jews and worship at the feet of the Führer, Jojo is often seen talking with his imaginary friend, a boisterously childish version of Hitler himself (played by Waititi).
When he discovers that his own mother has been hiding a Jewish teenage girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic, the young boy is conflicted between his burgeoning romantic feelings towards his new friend and his blind loyalty to a murderous racist regime.
Waititi delves deep into past comedic depictions of Hitler to bring us a daring and ambitious production. Picking up the baton from Charlie Chaplin (The Great Dictator, 1940) and Mel Brooks (The Producers, 1967), the New Zealand writer/director has succeeded in highlighting the absurdity of fascist ideology without ever overstepping the mark into being offensive or diminishing the importance of the Holocaust.
Scarlett Johansson puts in a beautifully measured and genuinely heartening turn as a mother prepared to risk it all for what she believes in, while Sam Rockwell excels as the conflicted leader of the local Hitler Youth group. For his part, newcomer Roman Griffin Davis is able to navigate a hugely complicated part with impressive ease for someone so young.
Taika Waititi has given us a sharp and at times devastating satire which, while not likely to be to everyone’s taste, still manages to make a valid commentary on the destructive nature of fascism.
Jojo Rabbit is on general release from January 1.