katie c

Would like to give 4.5 stars ideally but I’ll round it up to 5. I’m shocked by the number of critics who suggest this film is a blunt and insensitive film, who criticise its parodies of Hitler and think it’s not funny. I was crying with laughter, crying with sadness and overwhelmed with joy at Jojo Rabbit. This film, aside from looking stunning, being solidly structured and really effectively directed is... hilarious! The entire cinema was in fits of laughter, but then also there are those solid moments of desperate and deep sadness, which the film allows for tonally, and appropriately. Taika has done an excellent job of parodying a sickened nation’s hatred towards a group of people, and representing a 1 dimensional Hitler (the Hitler that Jojo initially looks up to). His portrayal of Hitler is ridiculous and hilarious, you can laugh at his hateful and abhorrent taunts and views because he just comes across as evil, yet immensely stupid, which I think is just perfect. Elsa, a really strong and rightfully angry character, who plays along with Jojo in his ignorance while letting him see through the brainwashing he has had throughout his life. She allows him to see how wrong he has been. There was something satisfying in the way she attacked him, because no doubt she would’ve been furious and sick to even see him. She was not a stereotypical portrayal of a victim, which I think was really refreshing. Jojo himself is a bewildered 10 year old taught only hatred and evil, and the films power is found through his turning on Hitler and realisation that he is not a Nazi, but just a terrified boy. Overall brilliant and very powerful. Don’t let people try to tell you that this film is insensitive or brash or hateful. It’s beautiful.