A child’s line of vision is closer to the ground than it is to the adults. So, when they look up to us, it is our grave responsibility to show them a world where they enjoy their present and imagine their future.
Jojo Rabbit explores this theory, taking us back to the wartime era when mankind was adamant about destroying its own existence. And the children were also conditioned to follow this norm, basically teaching them how to kill one another.
The film navigates through the “regular days” in Nazi Germany, where the adults are busy thriving in a dwindling economy while children are getting an education on “how to perceive Jews” and “how to fight during the war.”
The film begins with a 10-year-old Johannes “Jojo” Betzler talking to his imaginary friend (been there, done that). The only sitch is that this friend happens to be Hitler! It is also symbolic of how brainwashed the Germans were under his dictatorship.
Jojo has only one dream– to be Der Führer Adolf Hitler’s personal bodyguard when he grows up. And to start his journey, he has to perform well in the Nazi Youth Camp. He joins the camp led by Captain Klezendorf with his only normal-age best friend, Yorki.
Captain K’s loyal assistants, Freddy Finkel and Fräulein Rahm, direct the young boys and girls, respectively.
Jojo is determined to perform well in all the “masculine” tasks but becomes a subject of bullying when the older guys at the camp make fun of him for his dad’s absence. He then summons his imaginary friend, who advises Jojo to do something drastic, and then boom! Jojo injures himself severely in the bomb explosion.
Now the ambitious little rabbit is assigned “desk work” of handing out propaganda pamphlets.
One day when he returns home from his duty, he hears unusual noises from an empty house. When he investigates further, he realizes betrayal in his house. His mom, Rosie, was hiding a teenage Jew in a hollow corner with no lights, no noise, darkness, and nothing to do.
Although scared shitless, Jojo confronts the girl who overpowers him in a second. Jojo’s hatred for Jews compels him to know more about her, but in the process, he unlearns much of what he was fed. Instead, he starts forming a bond with Elsa.
Meanwhile, Jojo’s full-of-life mother, Rosie, dotes on her son and takes care of him singlehandedly since his father is away fighting in Italy. Somewhere she is disappointed that Jojo is such an ardent Hotler follower, but she never questions her son’s morality. Rosie is sure that Jojo will make the right decision when the time comes. However, behind her bright smile, there also seems to be secrecy.
One day as Rosie and Jojo are spending quality time, they come across harrowing visuals of 4-5 people hanging by their necks in the middle of the road. Instead of closing his eyes, Rosie makes Jojo look so he knows what kind of regime he worships.
The days pass by, and we see Jojo bonding with Elsa while Rosie sneaks away somewhere once in a while. And in all the hunky-dory, Jojo’s life turns upside down in a matter of moments.
What Happens at the End of Jojo Rabbit?
On one fine day, Jojo hears a knock on his door. Time stands still around him as he opens the door to find the Gestapo or Geheime Staatspolizei (the secret police of Nazi Germany).
As a child himself, he stands clueless yet confident while greeting each. He is unsure how he will explain why Elsa lives in the house. But at that moment, Elsa appears in front of them fearlessly. She tells them she is Jojo’s elder sister (Jojo actually had a sister, but she died).
Just as the Gestapo rummages through the house, Captain K rushes into the house on his bicycle. He is shocked to see a strange girl in Jojo’s place. He also starts assisting the police in the search and finds something at the desk.
After the search, the head of the Gestapo asks the girl for her papers. Instead of handing it to him, Captain K takes it from her. When questioned about her birthday, she says a date. Captain K confirms that it is correct. And the Gestapo leaves. But… Captain K lied; he knows, HE KNOWS!
Later that day, Jojo goes out to buy something to eat, and on the way, he finds a rather intriguing butterfly. He follows it, running slowly behind it, smiling at it, and then it stops, and he stops, and the world around him stops spinning.
Who Is Hanging at the End of Jojo Rabbit?
A child’s line of vision: It stores information, memories, experiences, beauty, and everything around it. Jojo’s life only had his mother, who brought a smile to his face and laughter to his heart. Rosie played the role of both parents. Jojo loved Rosie unconditionally even after discovering she was a traitor for hiding a Jewish in their home. Her maroon shoes with tiny laces symbolized her faith in humanity and her principles, even in resistance.
Jojo looked at her shoes and thought of how cheerful, optimistic, and playful his mother was. He would love it when she danced wearing those shoes. Those were the happy memories he cherished before the butterfly stopped.
Jojo is left in the middle of the road, where he instantly identifies his mother’s shoes in his line of vision. And just when he looks up, he sees his world shattered. A child looking at his dead mother is like a part of heaven collapsing into rubble.
Jojo breaks down, realizing he looks up to the worst evil who killed his mother, and he dismisses his devotion to the dictator.
Why Was Rosie Hanged in Jojo Rabbit?
Rosie was a part of the resistance. She already rebelled by hiding a Jew in her home, indicating her disdain for the Nazis. But unbeknownst to her family, she was a secret activist. She would secretly place anti-Nazi pamphlets, educating people on Nazi propaganda.
This all happened during the ending days of World War II. The German militia was losing, and Hitler’s regime was getting more insecure. Instead of focusing on their strategy, the Nazis would impose strict governing among their own citizens. Because of these strict rules and monitoring, Rosie was caught and executed. Hence, Rosie was hanged in the middle of the town to warn other people of the consequences of betraying the Nazis.
Why Did They Dance at the End of Jojo Rabbit?
Jojo kicks Hitler out of the window– denoting that he has completely eradicated the Hitler mold out of his brain and has realized the pure evil of his regime.
While Jojo searches for food in a war-stricken city, he doesn’t find food but reunites with his friend Yorki. He finds out that the war is over, and the German troops are arrested. Captain K is one of the arrested when he sees that Jojo is pulled as well. Captain K immediately removes Jojo’s jacket and tells them that Jojo is Jewish to save him. Later, we hear gunshots; our heroic Captain K is killed.
Here’s a theory on Captain K: It is believed that he knew that Rosie had been hanged. Hence, we see him rushing over to Jojo’s house that day when the Gestapo arrived. He was trying his best to save Jojo even then. RIP legend!
After all the ruckus, Jojo goes back to the house. But he lies to Elsa that the Germans won and she has to stay with him. As a child, it is understandable that he would want at least someone to be with him after he lost his mother. And also, he loved Elsa.
However, after feeling immense guilt, he tells her that the Germans have lost and the Jews are free. She slaps him across the face and then forgives him the next instant.
And for the first time, she steps out of the house as a free person. To commemorate this freedom, the first thing they wanted to do was dance.
What are your thoughts on this movie? Do you think the evils of war from children’s eyes are even more brutal?
Who was your favorite character in the movie? Let us know in the comments section below.
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