Jojo Rabbit: A Sad but Refreshing Satire About Nazi Germany

“You’re not a Nazi, Jojo, you’re just a ten year old kid who likes dressing up in a funny uniform and wants to be part of a club.”

“Jojo Rabbit” is a refreshing satire and dark comedy directed by Taika Waititi following a young German boy, Jojo, in his journey of comprehending the horrors of World War II. Oh, and his imaginary friend is Hitler, played by the Jewish director!

Jojo is a loyal member of the Hitler Youth Group and wants nothing more than to prove himself as a man. When assigned to kill a rabbit, he runs away in fear, deeming him “Jojo Rabbit.” His father is off fighting in the war, and the sole responsibility of raising Jojo is left to his mom, Rosie, impressively played by Scarlett Johansson. Rosie is part of the resistance and hides a Jewish girl, Elsa, in their home. When Jojo first discovers Elsa, he is in absolute horror and threatens to tell on her. But as Jojo gets to know Elsa, he develops a crush on her and starts questioning his “friend” Hitler. 

Waiti somehow manages to take a tragic topic like Nazi Gernmany and make it light hearted and humerous, all the while showing the harsh realities of the period. 

The movie is simultaneously sad and funny. The cinematography of the movie is bright and vibrant with a unique color palette, similar to a Wes Anderson movie. The soundtrack of the film is unexpectedly cheerful even featuring “Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand" by The Beatles, the German version of “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” 

There are many movies that cover World War II from the Jewish perspective and rightfully so, but rarely do you see movies highlighting the Nazi German perspective, at least in a humane manner. I think the only movie other than “Jojo Rabbit” that has successfully done so in a similar manner is “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas”: a tragic film also from the perspective of a young German boy, who is ignorant of his father’s position as a Nazi general, and ends up befriending a Jewish boy. 

Overall, I think what movies like “Jojo Rabbit” do is show that, one way or another, everyone was a victim in World War II, even some of the Nazis. Many of them were brainwashed and just thrown into the insanity of it all. “Jojo Rabbit” could’ve easily gone terribly wrong and come off as offensive, but I think Waititi does a good job of making sure that doesn’t happen. The whole purpose of “Jojo Rabbit”, as Waititi states, is to promote peace and tolerance, which I believe it successfully does. So make sure to watch it!