Review: Jojo Rabbit
Posted on
A World War II satire that follows a lonely German boy named Jojo whose enthusiastically Nazi world view is turned upside down when he discovers his mother is hiding a young Jewish girl in their attic.
Aided only by his idiotic imaginary friend, Adolf, Jojo must confront his blind nationalism. IMDb
It is a rare thing to see a movie this close to perfect.
I am now seeking a copy of the novel Jojo Rabbit is based on to discover whether it was faithfully adapted, or if the Samuel Beckett-like humour and strangeness is a product solely of its genius filmmaker—Taika Waititi.
This crazy Kiwi may be the future of film. I love all his work, especially Hunt for the Wilderpeople, but this takes that laugh-until-you-gasp-and-cry style of humour to the next level. It will lift you up, it will break your heart but I promise you—it is like nothing you’ve seen before.
Taika always pops up as a character actor in his own films (yes, even Thor: Ragnarok) but here he takes on a major role (Hitler), adapts the screenplay AND directs, beautifully. Seriously, it is beautiful cinema—I’ll just say ‘shoes’ here and anyone who has already seen this will tear up.
The performances are light as a feather, even though the material is sometimes very weighty.
The one-liners are superb, used both for comedy (“it’s a bad day to be a Nazi”) and to hit home the point of the film (Jojo sees a line of hanged people and asks his mother what they did, she replies “what they could”).
In the end, Jojo Rabbit is about surviving an indescribably awful time in your own place, your own town—and it is squarely against hate in any form.
Scarlett Johannsson is wonderful as Jojo’s mother, as is Sam Rockwell as a wonderfully drunk and flamboyant Nazi officer. Stephen Merchant, Alfie Allen and Rebel Wilson are appropriately absurd. Although it should be noted that on Oscars night Rebel said that her lines were based on actual instructions from a guide for good German women, which is more frightening than any absurdity.
However, this movie belongs to the young folk.
You won’t know their names but you will never forget these roles—the unfortunate but irrepressible Jojo and his 40-year-old-friend-in-the-body-of-an-11-year-old—the Jewish girl from the attic.
Every character is a gem. The visuals are spot on. The story is mad, but as Alice says, all the very best are.
So finally, if your January (and even the start of February) has been anything like mine, you need a lift and you need it right now. I know this film has been out for a while—so if you’ve seen it, enjoy the memory. If you haven’t, go now.
Taika for President!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL4McUzXfFI
Leave a Reply