By Emily Burack for The JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)…
“Jojo Rabbit” sounds like a film that is difficult to pull off amid the state of rising anti-Semitism in 2019.
It’s a comedy set during the Holocaust about a 10-year-old German boy being brainwashed by Nazi ideology and his imaginary friend — a playful version of Hitler who likes to dance.
But before you get outraged or assume it downplays the horrors of the Holocaust, like multiple critics have argued already, take a deep breath: “Jojo Rabbit” is a very good movie with a meaningful message.
First, the basics.
The film is written and directed by Taika Waititi — a Maori Jew most recognized for writing and directing the recent “Thor: Ragnarok” movie — who also stars as Hitler. His version of the Fuehrer is the imaginary projection of a boy named Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) who is set on joining the Hitler Youth.
Jojo discovers early on that his mom (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic. The two kids develop an unlikely friendship, and their relationship is at the heart of the film…
Read the full article on The JTA here.
