Movieman Madness: Cinema Spotlight II – Taika Waititi (Part 6): ‘Jojo Rabbit’

Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) talking with Adolf (Taikia Waititi).

This isn't the first comedy to lampoon the Nazi Party. From Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator, The Producers from Mel Brooks, even cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Donald Duck had their respective shorts in Herr Meets Hare, Daffy the Commando and Der Fuehrer's Face. Roberto Benigni's Life is Beautiful being the most recent and the only I believe that takes place during the Holocaust. Taikia Waititi gives his take in this loose adaptation of Christine Leunens' bittersweet novel.

Jojo and his mom (Scarlett Johansson) meeting with Nazi leaders
Captain Klenzendorf (Sam Rockwell) and Fräulein Rahm (Rebel Wilson).

There is nothing that ten-year-old Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) would love than to be than a Nazi. Learning all he can at Hitler Youth Camp from burning books, throwing grenades, and the slanderous history of the Jews. Whenever Jojo feels down he turns to his imaginary friend Adolph Hitler (Taikia Waititi) for advice and comfort on the matter.

Trying to talk with Elsa (Thomas McKenzie).

His perception is suddenly challenged when he discovers that his mother Rosie (Scarlett Johansson) is part of a secret rebellion against the Nazis and even more surprising is when he discovers Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie) a teenage Jewish girl hiding in their house, courtesy of Rosie. While the two get off to an antagonistic start, the more Jojo spends time with Elsa, the more he questions himself if being a Nazi is all the greatness it supposedly promised to be.

Fresh from his mainstream success with Thor: Ragnarok, Jojo Rabbit sees Taikai Waititi return to his quirky comedic roots in the indie field. Much like the young protagonists in Waititi's other films like Boy and Hunt for the Wilderpeople, these are kids going through a tough ordeal. Behind that rash demeanor is pain and sorrow and a yearning for love. For Jojo its learning to see people like Elsa are human beings like him and importance of human life. For Elsa its being able to find hope even with a little German child like Jojo. Roman Griffin Davis and Thomasin McKenzie are great together and the reactions that bounce off one another add to the bond that grows when the film ventures into heavy material. Can't forget about Archie Yates who steals the show as Jojo's best friend Yorki. Like Davis, for his first film role the kid is a delight delivering some of the best lines.

Walking in a war field with Yorki (Achie Yates).

Waititi continues to amaze me pulling triple shifts as writer, director and actor. When it comes to the young actors, their performances are more mature than the adult actors who for the most part come off as goofy even for this comedy. Scarlet Johansson's role plays a pivotal part for Jojo but with a silly fake accent and Chaplin-like demeanor its like seeing Inspector Clouseau in Schindler's List. Sam Rockwell with his corrupt cohorts are funny but are as intimidating as Team Rocket. Only Stephen Merchant as a creepy Gestapo agent poses as an immediate threat but isn't in the film for that long.

Jojo Rabbit's quirky telling of such a sensitive topic may understandably not be for everyone. Waititi's brand of comedy and characters have been better presented in his earlier work but the movie is elevated by superb child performances in this tale of giving it to Der Fuehrer's Face.

Director Trademarks:

Green

Green is frequent color that appears in Waititi's work whether
on the walls of a building or out in the grassy fields signifying growth and healing
to the lonely main protagonist.

Director Appearance

Photo cameo in Eagle Vs Shark, Hitler in Jojo Rabbit, Church Minister in Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Viago the Vampire in What We Do in the Shadows, Alamein in Boy & Korg in Thor Ragnarok.

Pop-Culture references