Jojo Rabbit

Image result for jojo rabbit poster

Easily my favourite movie of the year, JoJo Rabbit is a complete masterpiece to me. Another amazing film from director Taika Waititi who adds his comedic and amazing energy to this one of a kind film. Everything in this film was perfectly executed to me and I can not wait to see how it does at this year’s Oscars with 6 nominations. These nominations including Best Picture, Best Production Design, Best Film Editing, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Costume Design. Deservingly so.


The film actually premiered at TIFF, and my personal experience with it was that it was sold out before I even got a chance! As a big fan of Taika and his work it was the #1 movie I wanted to see. The film went on to win People’s choice at TIFF, beating out big pictures like Joker, Ford vs Ferrari, and Marriage Story. To me this film is like the underdog of the film industry this year, like it went completely unnoticed and yet up for all these Oscars. I can not wait for February 9th to cheer on my favourite movie of the year.


This film is so unique for this particular genre. The different perspectives and direction that was taken was fresh in comparison to other films of a similar nature. It’s so appealing and talented how it can go from comedic and light hearted to dramatic and dark so seamlessly. For me that stood out when this happy little boy realizes his mother was hung. How it instantly changed the mood of the story and your heart just sank with only seeing the shoes, is such a powerful scene. I found it interesting how the story was told from the perspective of a child. Generally, in films like these it’s about the men and the war efforts but people don’t tend to stop and think about how the children were raised then. Their fathers likely went to fight in the war, the war that consumed their country. What did these kids learn? What did they do at this time in history? I think the dynamic is fantastic between the Jewish girl in the attic, Elsa and Jojo. It highlights how he wasn’t actually a supporter of the Nazis, but blindly following what he was taught was the “right way” of thinking. It reveals this realization that maybe what he has been taught, isn’t the right thing to do. Another interesting take is how films tend to portray Nazi Germany as gray and grimy, lacking any colour at all. But in reality, Germany was a colourful and beautiful country. I liked how this movie was able to show different perspectives we don’t usually see on the big screen.


I think it’s quite lovely that Taika’s mother is Jewish and that she was the person to introduce the book to him that he based the movie off of. I believe that makes the film a little more special than any other film about World War II. I think this film takes it a step further and really tells a story that needs to be told. It really does hold an important message. Furthermore, I can’t finish this review without talking about the outstanding casting choices and acting talent. I can not stress enough how good Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin Mackenzie, and Archie Yates do for child actors. Especially, acting alongside big names like Scarlett Johanson, Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson and Stephen Merchant. With such a brilliant script and room to improvise as Taika gives, these actors really allowed for this film to truly be what it was. I would have loved to be in any room where Taika tried to pitch this movie, it proves that even the craziest ideas can be amazing films. Really, these crazy ideas should be given more chances in today’s repetitive storytelling Hollywood.

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