Jojo Rabbit Review: A minefield of emotions

I’m not someone who is into films about war. Despite that, I decided to give Jojo Rabbit a watch and that’s been the best decision I’ve made this week 😊 The film is based on a book Caging Skies by Christine Leunens but I had no idea till I read more about it after watching the film.

Taika Waititi as Hitler and Roman Griffin Davis as Jojo

At its core, Jojo Rabbit is a film about love and acceptance. We experience the war through the eyes of a 10 year old who loves & weirdly adores Adolf Hitler. Jojo and tons of other kids enrol in camps to prepare themselves to fight the war. Taika Waititi, the director of the film, also plays the dictator.

At home Jojo lives with his mother Rosy, played by Scarlett Johansson, who isn’t a huge fan of Hitler. In one scene Rosy laments that she wants to talk her baby boy - a 10 year old...not a Hitler fanatic. She says that the dinner table is Switzerland and that one should only have neutral conversations there.

Scarlett Johansson as Rosy in the film.

While the film seems very specific to World War II, it actually comments on a mother-child relationship so effortlessly. Rosy and Jojo constantly have little arguments because their takes on life is so different. My favourite scene is when Rosy says “Love is the strongest thing in the world” and Jojo has this hilarious comeback and trust me I found myself (not so) surprisingly supporting Jojo’s unromantic, pragmatic take on the world.

The screenplay and cinematography in this film really enhance your viewing experience. This scene where you see Rosy and Jojo looking at something so intensely is something that haunted me even after the film ended.

Waititi also focuses on Rosy’s feet/shoes quite a bit in the film. There are so many reasons why he could’ve done so. One is the fact that dancing was something she enjoyed. Another was the fact that she constantly had to help Jojo tie his shoelaces. The last...I let you figure out when you watch the film.

What really impressed me was the fact that a film that has a war theme gave so much importance to human relationships. It’s not just Jojo and Rosy. Rosy and Elsa (a Jewish girl hiding in Rosy’s house) share a unique and wholesome relationship. Not to forget the 2 adorable buttons/friends - Jojo and Yorki. Children. Are. Amazing.

The thing about this film is that it unpacks so much with such ease...I could go on and on about all the political commentaries that Waititi tastefully tackles in this film. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and I hope it takes home some awards at the Oscars’!

(p.s. I think ScarJo was phenomenal here compared to Marriage Story!!!!!)