Telling stories from a child's perspective is a fantastic way of portraying the world with a sense of youthful excitement and innocence - but what if that child was a member of the Hitler Youth?
That is exactly the controversial perspective director Taika Waititi takes in Jojo Rabbit. The film follows Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis), a 10-year-old member of the Hitler Youth, as he discovers that his mother (Scarlett Johansson) has been hiding a Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic. This discovery forces him to question everything he has been taught to believe and make the choice between honouring his leader or protecting his mother.
Jojo, a Nazi child filled with determination and blind passion for his leader, should not be a character to like or empathise with. However, while his beliefs are problematic, Jojo is a small, scared boy, who is bullied by the older kids and confides in his unconventional imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler. His first ever role, Roman Griffin Davis is outstanding as Jojo, conveying the pure innocence and ignorance of the brainwashed boy with humour and emotion, all while doing a pretty good German accent.
The imaginary führer, played by Waititi himself, is a ridiculous and idiotic manifestation from Jojo’s mind, a purely satirical portrayal of the dictator responsible for the death of millions of innocent people. While this could come across as distasteful, the utter stupidity of his actions and advice to the young boy make some of the more difficult scenes much more bearable, acting as a moment of comedic relief from the harsh realities of WWII Germany. The portrayal of the Nazi’s in Jojo Rabbit is purely a thing of mockery, with scenes such as Steven Merchant’s Gestapo raid being both anxiety-inducing and hilarious, each character repeatedly greeting one another with an absurd ‘Heil Hitler’ salute (31 times in 1 minute - a record according to Waititi). Sam Rockwell’s Captain Klenzendorf, an army officer who can no longer fight due to losing an eye, is one of the only adult characters, alongside Jojo’s mother, who shows any hint of empathy. The Captain acts as somewhat of a father figure to the child, teaching him about the realities of war and protecting him, making sacrifices for the child that go against his and his country’s beliefs.
Thomasin McKenzie’s portrayal of Elsa, the Jewish teenager hidden away in Jojo’s attic, is one not of a scared, passive girl, but of a strong young woman, determined to save herself and educate Jojo on the horrors her people face. “You’re not a Nazi, Jojo. You’re a ten-year-old kid who likes dressing up in a funny uniform and wants to be part of a club” - Elsa sees through Jojo’s Nazi persona to what he truly is: a young, scared boy who just wants a friend. The relationship between Jojo and Elsa is a powerful demonstration of how easily young minds can be shaped, a thought that is potentially harmful but, most of all, hopeful.
Waititi manages to achieve a wonderful balance of charm and emotion, combining satirical humour with a topic so dark and serious that it shouldn't work whatsoever. He juxtaposes moments of hilarity with some truly unexpected scenes of horror and tragedy, creating a film that is hard-hitting and emotionally impactful. Waititi does a fantastic job of embedding small details which link to later moments in the film, evoking a much deeper emotional response. His use of music and editing is fantastic and adds to the overall comedic tone of the film - I particularly loved the opening title sequence, a montage of ‘Heil Hitler’ salutes accompanied by a German cover of 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' by The Beatles.
Taika Waititi is a genius. His filmmaking style truly captures the youthful energy and excitement of his child protagonists, something which he achieves so well because of his own childlike humour and youthful energy. Through the character of Jojo, Waititi sets an example to all of us; how if we open our eyes to the world outside what has been constructed for us, how if we listen to others and become more open-minded, how if we bring a sense of empathy and compassion to everything we do, we can truly make a difference - something which is of great importance now more than ever.
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