Jojo Rabbit Review

You’d be forgiven for thinking the idea of a comedy film about the holocaust — a subject that should never be made light of — is far too controversial. But somehow director, Taika Waititi manages to create a movie that balances on the line without ever stepping over to insensitive.

Waititi is known for his silly humour, from the constant gags in Thor: Ragnarok, to the hilarious and underrated What We Do In The Shadows. His take on Hitler (or rather, a little boys’ version of Hitler in his own head) — a character that Waititi himself plays — completely rips Adolf apart. He cleverly makes fun of such an evil man, in a way that we laugh at him, but hate him just the same.

The character may have you in hysterics at times, but Roman Griffin Davis’s depiction of Jojo, a young German boy who dreams of being a Nazi holds the whole film together. He plays the role in a way that adds so much humility, you simply can’t hate him. You root for him to find the right path, and to be enlightened as to who Hitler truly is. His journey from Nazi wannabe to liberal orphan is one of the best character progression stories to ever be put on the big screen.

Scarlett Johansen — for all her flaws in her choice of characters in the past — actually suits this role to a tee, as Jojo’s mother, Rosie who is anti-Nazi. Although for obvious reasons she keeps this hidden, even from her own son. She’s hiding a young Jewish girl, Elsa (played by Thomasin McKenzie) in her house. When Jojo finds Elsa, this is when the film moves into fifth gear. Elsa’s portrayal of a young Jewish woman during the holocaust is one of sadness, loneliness and hopelessness. And yet, when herself and Jojo dance on the street towards the end of the film, you can’t help but smile.

The movie manages to not only show the hardships that the Jewish community had to face — even when they survived, but it also highlights the manipulation towards Germans, and in particular German children. It cleverly manages to make you laugh, while also showing you just how an evil dictator can dig their claws into a whole nation. But even in those circumstances, there will still always be rebels among the crowd.

Hannah Parker