“Do What You Can”

❗ One-Liner

Cute comedy satire about Nazi kids during WWII.

😎 Director and Other Works:

Taika Waititi also directed Guardians of the Galaxy.

💭 Thoughts

Jojo Rabbit is one of the best films I’ve ever seen. If people would ask me to rate the best satire-comedy, I’ll definitely rate this as number 1. This is a film that I will always recommend to other people, no matter the age, gender, and interest.

(WARNING: Mild Spoilers)

Here are some of the details I loved about Jojo Rabbit:

1. Clever Shift in Tones. Comedy really helped heighten the emotions in some of the heart-wrenching scenes. It’s always a good idea to precede sad scenes with laughs as the sudden shift in tonality helps trigger a stronger reaction from the audience.
2. Show Don’t Tell. Audiences were treated as smart people. A lot of meaning could be derived from scenes that weren’t narrated nor directly pointed out. (e.g. Captain K’s drawings and his gender-preference)
3. Foreshadowing. Really loved how in several scenes the mother’s shoes have been presented in the background and how this helped deliver a stronger impact during the climax.  
4. Chekhov’s Gun. This is the concept that random/minor details within a story would eventually contribute to the overall narrative. During the scene where the Gestapo (Nazi Police) inspected the house, Jojo’s missing knife (which in the beginning was briefly mentioned that Nazi’s should always carry) really heightened the tension in the scene.
5. Yorki. I just love how endearing and funny Jojo’s best friend is throughout the movie. He really helped lighten the mood.
6. Hero’s Journey. A good story leads to a character’s discovery of something he does not know or realize yet at the beginning of the journey. Whatever this realization may be, may lead to a change in the character or to the people/environment around him. Jojo’s transformation really exemplifies this concept.

😍 You would love this if you were:

1. A history nerd
2. A lover of witty comedy

🤔 Films I’m reminded of:

1. 1. Inglourious Basterds (2009) by Quentin Tarantino. Similar to Jojo Rabbit, this film is a satire/parody of Nazis. Really enjoyed this film as well.
   2. Moonrise Kingdom (2012) by Wes Anderson. A quirky-artsy film about Boy Scouts reminded me of Jojo and his stint on the Nazi training camp.

💡 Insights:

The film really makes you think about the effects of war and propaganda on children. Fed with misguided ideologies packaged as the truth, innocent children can be swayed into becoming monsters. The challenge is that all of us are susceptible to this brainwashing as well. Fake news and social media echo chambers could easily turn us into blind fanatics. To prevent this, it’s important that we remain aware of our susceptibility and proactively search for various sources of information.

I also had this realization that the hate for Jews is akin to the war on drugs here in the Philippines. Both are propaganda perpetrated by those in power to control the masses by driving hate towards a common “enemy.” Lots of studies have been conducted about the ineffectiveness of the War on Drugs. But it’s easier for leaders to get quick public support when they’re able to take down “criminals” rather than for them to meticulously explain how long-term economic policies could benefit everyone. 

Not everyone can or has the luxury to think long-term, especially those who are unfortunate to barely scrape by day-to-day. And until people remain uneducated, the masses will continue to be exploited.

It’s not those in power that get obliterated during wars or during misguided government policies, rather it is usually the masses, especially the marginalized, who take the brunt of the damages.

We need to help educate people to stop falling for these tricks. In our own little ways, we can help other people better understand the power and danger of propaganda, so we all may avoid being manipulated and also avoid the creation of future Hitlers. 

As Jojo said, “Do what you can.”