An essential watch!

Rating: 10/10 (9 February 2020)

A modern masterpiece starting off the year perfectly that encompasses so many genres, it's certainly unique! Based on the novel Caging Skies by Christine Leunens and set in World War II, we follow a 10 year old boy named Jojo who is growing up under the world wide influence of Nazi control, speaks to Hitler quite often in his imagination and ultimately just wants to be part of a group. He finds out his mother is hiding a young Jewish girl in their home and all sorts of conflicted feelings start occurring. What follows is the emotional growth and realisation that Jojo is not a nazi; he does not belong under an evil dictatorship and there is much more to living life positively than obsessing over war. Writer/Director Taika Waititi (What We Do In The Shadows, The Hunt for the Wilder People) has created his finest work through sheer bravery in a bittersweet comedy/drama taking place in a horrendous historical event. The horror of the nazi regime during World War II is explored with some devastating sequences, including an incredibly intense home visit from the gestapo led by a surprisingly menacing Stephen Merchant on superb form to a disturbing revelation at the beginning of the third act. All the while however, the overall effect feels positive and it's a film that completely celebrates humanity's good side in the face of segregation and nihilism. But it's not all dramatic; it's a film with pure glowing heart and huge belly laughs also from an incredible cast. Waititi casts himself as Jojo's imaginary friend, Adolf, and simultaneously blends the evil dictatorship as well as great humour delightfully poking fun at the Nazis through a 10 year olds perspective and adding a wonderfully weird fantastical element to the story. Sam Rockwell's Captain K and his buddy Finkel played by Alfie Allen are incredible every time theyre on screen and add much also to the pathos of the story (their battle image is just fantastic!)
Scarlett Johannson is a real stand out here; her role as Jojo's mother is so important and she is truly the joyful heart and soul to the film. Thomasin McKensie is great as the young girl living with Jojo and his mother and has some wonderful pieces of dialogue that really highlight the ridiculousness of discrimination. Of course a big shout out has to be made to Roman Griffin Davis in the lead role who is absolutely phenomenal; not only is his comic timing perfect but he also keeps the heart strings tugging at certain emotional junctures of the story. Shoes play a powerful role here and are part of one of the most effective visual narrative progressions that I can ever remember seeing. The soundtrack is hugely memorable, the production design is spot on, the tonal shifts work completely to create a hugely entertaining film. The seriousness of the subject matter is always present and ultimately makes a fantastic message of sustaining a positive attitude and individuality even more so than ever and ensure as a species that these horrific events can never be repeated again. I really loved it and it should be seen by everyone. Oh and Jojo's best buddy Yorki played by Archie Yates is just brilliant!