If you’ve ever wanted to see a film where a young boy’s imaginary friend just happens to be Adolf Hitler, then 2019’s Jojo Rabbit is for you. Based upon Christine Leunens’ novel “Caging Skies”, Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows; Thor: Ragnarok) adapts and directs this unique satire on World War 2 era Germany.
Amplifying an already ludicrous Nazi doctrine, Waititi transports us into the world of young Jojo (first time actor Roman Griffin Davis – a terrific find), a slightly mousy boy heading off to Hitler Youth camp. Completely immersed in a society of indoctrination, it is perhaps no surprise that his poor-advice giving imaginary friend is the Führer himself, Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi) – in many ways, a skewed stand-in for his missing father (who is off somewhere during the war).
With his only friend being the bespectacled Yorki (a scene stealing Archie Yates), the boy tries his best to fit into the camp run by disenchanted (and one-eyed) Captain Klenzendorf (Sam Rockwell) and his two helpers, Finkel (Alfie Allen) and Fraulein Rahm (Rebel Wilson). This is not easy though, as he is more on the sensitive side, not having the killer instinct the powerful Aryan race is supposed to have.
After a mishap, Jojo is sent home to his mother Rosie (Scarlett Johansson), while the camp leaders are demoted to paper-pushing office duties in the city. Splitting his time between said office and home, Jojo soon discovers that his mother has been hiding a young Jewish girl, Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie), in the walls of their home.
Completely at odds with his upbringing in the socialist country, Jojo attempts to wrap his head around (with the help of his imaginary friend) how different Elsa seems to be compared to the rumours that have been bandied about (horns, special mind powers, smells like Brussels sprouts. . .). Placed in the precarious position of being loyal to the state that he is so involved in, or to his loving mother, Jojo begins to spend extra time with Elsa – a form of reconnaissance.
Placing this genteel boy in a wholly unique situation, or as his own Hitler puts it, “you’re a little bit scrawny, and a bit unpopular, and you can’t tie your shoelaces, even though you’re ten years old. But you’re still, the bestest, most loyal little Nazi I’ve ever met. Not to mention the fact you’re really good looking. . .”, is a solid narrative strategy. Within a world that is utterly black and white, he is forced to live in the grey area as he makes his first adult-like decision – whether to do what is right in protecting the girl, or continue following the skewed ideology of the Nazi’s.
And though this generally plays as an edgy comedy, when it does lean towards drama, it really hits home. After all, this subject matter tackles one of the darkest times of 20th century history, and Waititi knows that there is no shying away from certain realities. Like those films released during 1939-1945 (think Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator or Ernst Lubitsch’s To Be or Not to Be), they tackle the topic head on – standing up to Hitler and his ludicrous agenda. . . balancing the sad truth with knowing that laughter is often the best way to bring a fearsome, larger than life demon back down to human size.
With so many quotable lines, Waititi has a field day with Jojo Rabbit. Funny, playful and quirky, a line towards the end finds Yorki telling Jojo that their only allies are the Japanese, “and, between you and me, they don’t look very Aryan”, while, during a ‘routine’ house inspection, Captain Deertz (Stephen Merchant), after seeing Jojo’s Nazi paraphernalia filled room, happily exclaims, “I wish more of our young boys had your blind fanaticism”. Then there is Captain Klenzendorf’s ruminations on his own childhood imaginary friend while talking to Jojo – “When I was your age, I had an imaginary friend called Connie. He used to wet my bed when I was asleep. It got me in so much trouble.”
Saying so much more than just some silly things about Nazis, Waititi is on the top of his game – an unorthodox anti-war message by way of unexpected subject matter. And, kudos to the man, for it easily could have been a one dimensional ‘all Germans are evil’ romp (like so many films before), instead finding some nice touches that fall in that grey area mentioned above.
With well rounded characters (look for some subtle winks and nudges that further expand the comedy and drama), quirky humour, excellent gags, and a noticeably powerful visual presence, Jojo Rabbit is a truly special watch this 2019 (though it won’t win over those who don’t think you should joke about such things). A last note – listen for wonderful song bookends, for the credits open with The Beatles German version of ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’ (Komm, gib mir deine Hand) and closes with David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’. So, tie your shoes and dance along to this hopping wartime comedy, it’s the most fun you could ever have in World War 2 Germany.