Jojo Rabbit

— I’ve seen a lot of coming of age films but “Jojo Rabbit” is one of a kind. It’s a satirical black comedy set in Germany toward the end of World War II. Jojo is a very Aryan-looking ten-year-old boy who’s steeped in Nazi propaganda and has Adolph Hitler for an imaginary friend. He may dream of becoming a soldier for der Fuhrer, but he’s small and not particularly athletic, doesn’t really have the heart for a kill, and teased more than respected by other boys. When he discovers a Jewish girl hiding in his mother’s attic, he faces a turning point that will affect how he views himself and the world around him. The storyline unfolds with the war and resistance always in the background, along with innocence lost and stolen, and the conflict between propaganda and truth. There’s an uneasiness as the film tries to balance both sides of many emotions, usually successfully. The path it takes tiptoes through some pretty dark patches of humor, but even as you're laughing it manages to tug at your heart as well, and it’s that roller coaster of feelings that makes the film work. I think it is well worth seeing, but if you don’t like it, you’ll probably hate it.

---

[2019. 108 min. Directed by Taika Waititi. Starring Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson, Taika Waititi, Sam Rockwell, and Rebel Wilson.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/jojo-rabbit-movie-review-2019