Jojo Rabbit
- Director: Taika Waititi
- Writer: Taika Waititi; Christine Leunens
- Producer: Taika Waititi; Kevan Van Thompson; Chelsea Winstanley; Carthew Neal
CGiii Comment
Rib-tickling and spine-chilling...both, at the same time!
Taika Waititi has outdone himself...here's a director, an actor, a writer at the top of his own game...and, thankfully, doesn't take himself too seriously. His performance on the red carpet [@London Film Festival] was...nothing short of bizarre...and, a breath of fresh air!
From Charlie Chaplin to Mel Brooks, not many have taken on a caricature of Hitler [and succeeded]...Taika Waititi joins this 'elite' - with his camp, crazed, comical führer...it's sure to offend many.
It's a tricky road to navigate, war & Nazism seen through a young boy's eyes & mind...where do you draw the line? Well...it would seem, you don't...throw it all up into the air and if you have the gift of being able to direct young actors [especially in comedy]...then, for sure, you're quids in! Taika Waititi directs kids with a stuffed wallet. Roman Griffin Davis is a wee marvel as he jumps between naivety, innocence and curiosity...all awhile sensing the penny starting to drop...it's a daft and dark road to his enlightenment.
There are even a couple of gay Nazis...Sam Rockwell and Alfie Allen, are a not-so-subtle couple of contrasting screaming, sweet-and-sour Nellies...the uniform re-design [scene] is an instant classic in absolute absurdity.
Jojo Rabbit is absurd...and [weirdly], has garnered much [undeserved] criticism from critics [what do they know!?!]...way too cantankerous and analytical to enjoy a film that [brilliantly] mixes the highs and lows of childhood with the absolute horrors of war.
Kids will love it. Everyone will love it...apart from those daft critics! A wee gem of a film.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
A World War II satire that follows a lonely German boy whose world view is turned upside down when he discovers his single mother is hiding a young Jewish girl in their attic. Aided only by his idiotic imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler, Jojo must confront his blind nationalism.
Cast & Characters
Roman Griffin Davis as Jojo Betzler;
Thomasin McKenzie as Elsa Korr;
Taika Waititi as Adolf Hitler;
Sam Rockwell as Captain Klenzendorf;
Scarlett Johansson as Rosie Betzler;
Rebel Wilson as Fraulein Rahm;
Alfie Allen as Finkel;
Stephen Merchant as Captain Deertz;
Victoria Hogan as Woman;
Brian Caspe as Herr Mueller;
James McVan as American Soldier;
Luke Brandon Field as Christoph;
Judith Georgi as German Translator;
Iva Sindelkova as Postwoman;
Joe Weintraub as Herr Junker;
Bethany Adams as Secretary;
Archie Yates as Yorki;
Sam Haygarth as Hans;
Gabriel Andrews as Herr Frosch;
Christian Clarke as Hitler Youth