Jojo Rabbit is an all out satire on Adolf Hitler and Nazism but done in a lighthearted manner that you can actually bring your kid to watch it.
I think it was written and directed purposely for children as the main protagonist is a ten year old boy played endearingly Roman Griffin Davis.
In his young and innocent mind, he is excited over the prospect of being part of Hitler's Youth group and doing fun things like throwing grenades and hunting for Jews.
Comedy and Hitler and the extermination of the Jews has been done well several times, my favorite being Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds - maybe because Tarantino allowed us to have our revenge over the Nazi bastards - even if only in film.
Despite being a comedy, what is good about Jojo Rabbit is that it did not shy away from showing the cruelty and the harshness of life at that time - the eerie demeanor of the Gestapo - and the hanging of anti-Nazi sympathizers.
"Let everything happen to you
Beauty and terror
Just keep going
No feeling is final"
This short excerpt from a poem by Rainer Marie Rilke was shown in the end of the movie and in a way it encapsulates the whole World War II experience of Jojo Betzler, the boy in the movie.
Scarlett Johansson plays his Mom and is the moral center of the story. Taika Waititi, the director and screenwriter is from New Zealand so it's amazing that he tackles this sticky subject matter with fearlessness. He also plays Adolf really well, it's a pity he did not get any acting nominations.
There is even a hint of homosexuality in the role of Sam Rockwell as the boys' trainer. It is done subtly and played wonderfully by Sam! No wonder every director wants him! He can play anything!
It's good the movie has fans among the Academy members, as it was nominated for Best Picture. Comedy still has a place in a year of big, masculine dramas.
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