MY FRIEND HITLER

The tone of the movie seems to shift during the second act as the premise becomes a bit blurry and the pace feels dragged, however, it picks up again during the third act with a surprisingly cynical portrayal of the Germans’ defeat. The movie starts off witty then quickly becomes pseudo-dramatic. The transition between humorous and poignant scenes was awkward. The serious scenes felt forced, bland, and predictable. However, the slapstick humour in the comedic scenes made up for it.rough a kid’s eyes. Adding to the childlike perspective is the whimsical, pastel-coloured depiction of war-ravaged Germany. As the events of the film grow darker, so do the colours, becoming bleaker.

Jojo Rabbit is a satirical comedy-drama based on Christine Leunen’s book Caging Skies. It revolves around the later stages of World War II. Directed by Oscar-winning writer/director Taika Watiti, the movie grossed a worldwide total of $75 million. It received 6 Academy Award nominations and won the 2020 Oscar for Writing (Adapted Screenplay). Some film critics gave this film harsh reviews as they thought it romanticized Hitler and the Holocaust, others called the movie “one of the most oddly poetic and beautifully brazen movies you may ever see.”

Jojo Rabbit sets out in Nazi Germany and follows ten-year-old Johannes "Jojo" Betzler, a vehement Hitler Youth member. Molding Jojo’s impressionable moral clay are two presences, one positive and the other toxic. The most well-meaning is his mother Rosie. She is a progressive woman challenging the Nazi status quo and secretly hiding a teenage Jewish girl named Elsa in the attic. Rosie’s advice always brims with encouraging enthusiasm. The more damaging voice comes from Jojo’s sardonic imaginary friend, the führer himself Adolf Hitler. His uncouth false god is a cheerleader of cruelty. For Jojo, Hitler is an idol that is difficult to deny or disbelieve.

On discovering Elsa, he is horrified as he thought she was his dead sister’s ghost. Upon learning that she is a Jew, he approaches her with caution and wariness because he’d always been told that Jews were enemies. But he was confused; this Jew didn’t look or act like a monster. He begins talking to her, trying to learn the truth about Jews so he can write a book, and forms a relationship that changes him. Befriending the trapped refugee grows the boy’s sympathies, sheds misconceptions and cleanses away the dirty propaganda spewing from the invisible Hitler.

From a cinematographic perspective, there seems to be an abundant focus on shoes, specifically his mother’s. Initially, to Jojo, they are a symbol of his mother’s beauty and wit. Then they become the bearer of bad news when Rosie is lynched in the town square after being outed for spreading anti-Nazi, Resistance propaganda. The camera cuts to Jojo, sobbing while embracing his mother’s legs. Throughout the movie, the characters were dressed in vibrant clothes as the film is seen through a kid’s eyes. Adding to the childlike perspective is the whimsical, pastel-colored depiction of war-ravaged Germany. As the events of the film grow darker, so do the colors, becoming bleaker.

The tone of the movie seems to shift during the second act as the premise becomes a bit blurry and the pace feels dragged, however, it picks up again during the third act with a surprisingly cynical portrayal of the Germans’ defeat. The movie starts off witty then quickly becomes pseudo-dramatic. The transition between humorous and poignant scenes was awkward. The serious scenes felt forced, bland, and predictable. However, the slapstick humor in the comedic scenes made up for it.

In conclusion, I would give this movie an 8/10. It was certainly entertaining and enjoyable; however, it did feel a bit lacking in some aspects. It is pg-13 rated, with a few swear words here and there. I would definitely recommend this movie if you’re looking for a war movie that grapples serious events with playfulness.