Jojo Rabbit

Rating: 7/10 (11 January 2020)

I was instantly attracted to this film the first time I saw the trailer, and I had a feeling it was going to have a Marmite reaction, audiences would either love it and go with it, or hate it, written and directed by Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows, Thor: Ragnarok). Basically, Johannes "Jojo" Betzler (Golden Globe nominated Roman Griffin Davis) is a ten-year-old boy living in Nazi Germany during the later stages of World War II with his mother, Rosie (Oscar and BAFTA nominated Scarlett Johansson). His father is missing in action on serving on the Italian Front and his older sister Inge recently died of influenza. Jojo, who seems very passionate about Nazism, often talks with his imaginary friend, a supportive but childish version of Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi). Jojo and his best friend Yorki (Archie Yates) attend a Hitler Youth training camp, run by the one-eyed Captain Klenzendorf (Sam Rockwell). When Jojo is ordered to kill a rabbit by older Hitler Youth members, he cannot bring himself to do it, and runs off crying being taunted by the other boys, calling him "Jojo Rabbit". After a pep talk from Adolf, Jojo returns and throws a hand grenade without permission. It bounces off a tree and explodes at his feet, leaving him with facial scars and a slight limp. After Jojo recovers, Rosie asks Klenzendorf, demoted after the incident, to make her son feel included despite his injuries. Jojo is given small tasks such as spreading propaganda leaflets throughout town and collecting scrap metal for the war effort. Alone at home one day, Jojo discovers a teenage Jewish girl hiding upstairs, Elsa Korr (Thomasin McKenzie), also his sister's former classmate. Jojo threatens to turn her over to the Gestapo, but Elsa warns that his mother would be killed for hiding her. He agrees to keep her safe, on the condition she reveals her "Jew secrets" so he can write a book for Klenzendorf, which amuses him. Elsa plays along and makes up stories that Jews have special powers, such as mind-reading. Jojo is angry with his mother for hiding a Jew, accusing her of being unpatriotic. Rosie dismisses his accusations; she believes that positivity and optimism are the best ways to be free of oppression. Jojo continues to interrogate Elsa, learning she has a boyfriend called Nathan with whom she wants to reunite when the war is over. Having potential feelings for her himself, Jojo forges a letter from "Nathan" which claims that he has found someone else and wants to break up with Elsa. Jojo feels guilty seeing her cry, and writes another letter retracting the first one, and argues with Adolf when he suggests Elsa is a monster. Later, while collecting metal, Jojo spots his mother leaving a "free Germany" message in town. Jojo is home one day when the Gestapo, led by Captain Deertz (Stephen Merchant), visit his house. Elsa reveals herself, pretending to be his sister Inge, their suspicions seem to be subsided when she confirms her birthday from memory. But Elsa realises she recited the wrong date, and that Klenzendorf, who also happened to arrive at the house during the visit, covered for her, she is confident she will be found out. Later that day, Jojo finds his mother has been hanged in the town square. Devastated, he returns home and tries to stab Elsa, but she comforts him when he breaks down. Jojo runs into Yorki, now a soldier, who tells him Hitler has committed suicide and that the Allies are closing in. A battle rages in the town, during which Fraulein Rahm (Rebel Wilson), arming and sacrificing children, is killed in an explosion. As the American and Soviet forces arrive, several Germans are captured, including a wounded Klenzendorf, who sacrifices himself to allow a captured Jojo to escape. The soldiers expel Jojo as Klenzendorf claims he is a Jew; he runs away as shots are heard. Jojo runs home, he wants to stop Elsa from leaving, so he lies, tells her that Germany won the war. Jojo gives her a "new" letter from Nathan, claiming that he and Jojo have found a way to smuggle her to Paris. Elsa confesses that her boyfriend died the previous year. Jojo tells her he loves her, and she tells him she loves him in a "little brother" way. The imaginary Hitler confronts Jojo for siding with Elsa, and Jojo kicks him out the window. Jojo takes Elsa outside, where she realises the Allies have won after seeing American soldiers. She slaps Jojo in the face for lying, and then they dance in the street. Also starring Game of Thrones' Alfie Allen as Finkel. Griffin Davis is a fantastic new young talent, Johansson is really good in her short time onscreen, the support of Rockwell, Wilson and Merchant are also great, and Waititi almost steals the show as the immature imaginary Nazi dictator the boy talks to. This works really well, seeing the war from the point-of-view of a child who is unaware of the full magnitude of it, obviously there is serious material, including anti-Semitism and the Nazi dictatorship, but it is funny and pokes fun where it can, not for everyone, but for me an enjoyable satirical wartime comedy-drama. It won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Taika Waititi, and it was nominated for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Film Editing, it won the BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay, Original Music for Michael Giacchino, Best Editing, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design, and it was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. Very good!