Jojo Rabbit 12A

Writer-director Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople) brings his signature wit and energetic style to this smart World War II-era satire.

A lonely young boy, Jojo is living in Germany in the final days of the war, with the Nazi regime, though crumbling, remaining vicious to the last. With his father gone, Jojo is a game member of the Hitler Youth, his imaginary friend none other than Adolf Hitler (played by Waititi himself). So when he discovers his mother (Scarlett Johansson) has been hiding a young Jewish girl in their house, Jojo must confront the veracity of his beliefs. But does he really ascribe to Nazi ideology or is he just desperate to belong to a group?

Tackling the ludicrousness of racism and nationalism head on, Waititi has crafted an audacious black comedy that besides clearly being very timely, also boasts great emotional depth and tenderness.