Jojo Rabbits Taika Waititi & Cast On Making An Anti-Hate Satire In Current Political Climate – Toronto Studio

“Nazis werent cool when I wrote it,” joked Jojo Rabbit filmmaker Taika Waititi about making and releasing his Adolf Hitler comedy in the current divided political climate, one where white supremacists have become some of President Donald Trumps more ardent supporters.

“People werent into this sh*t when I wrote it, and now its just developed and suddenly weirdly relevant,” says Waititi, who was first turned on to Christine Leunens novel Caging Skies by his mother some years ago.

The film follows a young German boy, Jojo Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis), who is a devotee of the Hitler youth, so much that his imaginary friend is a funny Fuhrer (Waititi). Jojos mother, Rosie (Scarlett Johansson), is harboring a Jewish fugitive (Thomasin McKenzie) which challenges the boys brainwashed beliefs.

No, Jojo Rabbit isnt Oliver Hirschbiegels Downfall. Its a movie about finding humanity in chaos, and the decimation of stereotypes, with Waititis sense of humor woven in. Critics were divided coming out of TIFF, believing that Waititi was joking too close to the fire, but festival audiences disagreed today, bestowing their Oscar Best Picture bellwether, the Grolsch Peoples Choice Award, upon Jojo Rabbit; an award won by such films as Green Book, The Kings Speech, 12 Years a Slave and American Beauty which found themselves months later with awards seasons top prize.

As Deadlines awards guru Pete Hammond reported, the reception for Jojo Rabbit at it TIFF world premiere was rapturous. Word of mouth will be this pics best friend when it opens limited from Fox Searchlight (under its new parent Disney) on October 18.

Says McKenzie on how Jojo Rabbit organically wags a finger at the current climate, “That happens quite a lot, I find, where films come out and they weirdly reflect or are like a mirror to whats actually going on in the real world. Which is why, for me, film is such an important medium. Because people are able to see things from a different perspective, and think about them in a different way. So in that kind of way, film is such an amazing piece of magic or treasure that is really valuable.”

When it comes to playing Hitler, Waititi says, “I didnt feel that uncomfortable, other than having to see myself in a mirror. But apart from that, I donRead More – Source