Directed by Taika Waititi
Starring Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson, and Taika Waititi
A lot can factor into who a person is or becomes, from who they spend time with, to what they're exposed to by the media. Our environment can shape our identity in extraordinary ways. But environments change, and how we respond to those changes can also shape us.
Jojo Rabbit, the latest film from Taika Waititi, has its main character experience such changes in one of the grimmest environments our world has ever known. This makes for a truly clever, bold and bittersweet film.
The film tells the story of Johannes "Jojo" Beltzer (Davis), a ten-year-old boy living in Nazi-Germany. Jojo is blindly devoted to his country's government, with dreams of becoming a Nazi, and even having a version of Adolf Hitler (Waititi) as an imaginary friend. One day, he discovers Elsa (McKenzie), a Jewish girl being hidden in his home by his mother Rosie (Johnasson). Unable to turn her in, as it would result in trouble for him and his mother, Jojo agrees to let Elsa stay provided he teach her "Jew secrets" for his self-published expose'. Elsa is more than happy to "enlighten" him and they form an unlikely friendship, much to the chagrin of Imaginary Hitler, and Jojo's beliefs are put into question.
This is truly one of the most unique stories put to screen in recent years. Germany during World War II is a setting that's not foreign to filmmaking, but for comedy, outside of the works of Mel Brooks it's really never been done. It's also unique in that hardly ever before, has this period in history been told in film from the perspective of a child. That gives it almost a bizarre innocence to it, while also heightening the tension of the situation. I will say that while this is a comedy, it's no "Springtime for Hitler" romp. There are extended comical sequences but they're seamlessly intertwined with the emotional, dramatic sequences.
That's a credit to writer/director Taika Waititi. One hang-up I initially had with his last film, Thor: Ragnarok, is that too many dramatic moments were immediately undercut by a funny line or gag. That is not the case with Jojo. The comedy is used as counterweight to the drama, and doesn't take away from it. It shows how much Waititi is a master of the craft of tone, and storytelling. Speaking of story, his script offers a lot more than "Nazi's are bad". It's a story about loving one another, what makes a person good or bad, and like I mentioned earlier, how we are effected by the environment were brought up in.
As far as that second point, each of the major players is given proper character development. Jojo learns that Elsa, a Jewish girl, isn't bad as he has been led to believe. We as the audience know Jojo is a Hitler Youth, but we see he is just an innocent little boy, who really doesn't know any better. The Nazi's in the film are portrayed as radical, incompetent buffoons, but some of them may just have hearts (which I'll get to). The world of Jojo Rabbit isn't straight black and white, as far as "The Jews are good and the Nazi's are bad." and that's a bold and human way to approach this story.
These characterizations are brought to life by a truly amazing class. The film is carried by the two stellar young talents, Roman Griffin Davis and Thomasin McKenzie. Davis, in his first film role ever, turns in a wonderful performance as Jojo. The audience can truly sympathize and root for Jojo as he goes through this journey, while also having a few laughs at his expense. It's one of the most charming child performances in recent years. McKenzie is a great foil to him, making Elsa very tough and cynical, while at the same time fragile and sincere. Each of these characters have an edge to them but at the end of the day are just scared kids in a dark period of time.
Scarlett Johansson as Jojo's mother Rosie is absolutely delightful, almost like a beacon of sunshine in this gloomy world. She's warm, charming, and comical, but you also feel her pain as a single mother to a Hitler Youth, while she herself resists the Nazi regime. That's a lot for one supporting performance and Johansson nails it (Oscar nomination, anyone?). Speaking of Oscar nominations, Academy Award Winner Sam Rockwell gives perhaps my favorite performance in the film as Captain Klenzendorf. He's so much more than a moronic caricature of a Nazi officer. There's actually dare I say, heart to him, as we see in his scenes with Davis. I could easily see Rockwell getting another Oscar nomination for this.
Taika Waititi is really something else as Imaginary Hitler. He's hilarious, but also a threat to Jojo's character development. Waititi does a great juggling act of playing this imaginary friend that acts as a young man's way of feeling less alone, and a young man's struggle to follow his heart or his government. Imaginary Hitler is, for lack of better phrase, Jojo's inner demon, and Waititi knows when to play the comical side and the serious side of the character. Archie Yates as Jojo's best friend Yorki is the most wonderful scene stealer. Stephen Merchant has a brief but chilling role as a Gustapo agent. He does get one gag about "Heil Hitler"ing everyone he sees but his performance is 99% tense.
As far as way Jojo is filmed, there's some really great shot composition on display. Many frames of the film look like bizarre pastel World War II paintings from some alternate universe (I say bizarre because there's an imaginary version of Hitler in them), and the over-saturation in some shots gives the film a Wes Anderson vibe. Michael Giacchino scores the film, and he gives us some of his usual fine work. The music he composes for Jojo is both sweet and somber, akin to his work on Up.
I would dare to say Jojo Rabbit is a must-see film. It can put a smile on your face, but also give you a harsh reality check. At a time where so many actions are driven by hate and prejudice, this film (which takes place in a time where actions very driven by hate and prejudice) reminds viewers the power of love and hope. It's a perfect balancing act of comedy and drama, that's wonderfully written and performed from beginning to end. If you haven't seen it yet, get to theater now before Tom Hanks' take on Mr. Rogers, and another character named Elsa swarm the box office…
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