Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Jojo	Roman Griffin Davis	½
Elsa	Thomasin McKenzie
Adolf	Taika Waititi
Fräulein Rahm	Rebel Wilson	½
Deertz	Stephen Merchant
Finkel	Alfie Allen
Captain Klenzendorf	Sam Rockwell
Rosie	Scarlett Johansson	½
Yorki	Archie Yates

Review

This clever, life-affirming film about a Hitlerjugend who is forced to rethink his convictions is a celebration of humanity's capacity for goodness. Clearly drawing inspiration from La vita e bella, it's also a celebration of the film medium – at the expense of veracity. But the film has its own affiliation to realism which effectively transports you into writer/director Taika Waititi's take on Berlin anno 1945. Waititi uses the art of seduction rather than argumentation in order to impose his toying with known concepts and dilemmas. And it's indeed seductive – calculating but seductive. Jojo Rabbit is a tactful, delicately balanced post-modernistic war movie, bolstered by sensitive, unique performances by an ensemble cast in full bloom. Special nods to the director and his fun rendition of an imaginary Adolf Hitler, Scarlett Johansson in free-spirited mode, and the immensely talented young Roman Griffin Davis in the title role. The production design by Ra Vincent and Nora Spoková is wonderful.