Jojo Rabbit Notes PDF

JOJO RABBIT CHARACTERS JOJO Johannes "Jojo" Betzler is a 10-year-old boy living in Nazi Germany during World War II. Key aspects of Jojo’s character: 1. Innocence and Indoctrination: At the beginning of the film, Jojo is a fervent member of the Hitler Youth, fully indoctrinated into...

JOJO RABBIT CHARACTERS JOJO Johannes "Jojo" Betzler is a 10-year-old boy living in Nazi Germany during World War II. Key aspects of Jojo’s character: 1. Innocence and Indoctrination: At the beginning of the film, Jojo is a fervent member of the Hitler Youth, fully indoctrinated into Nazi ideology. He idolises Adolf Hitler, who appears to him as a bumbling, comical imaginary friend. His naivety is evident as he fully believes the anti-Semitic propaganda he's been taught, but as a child, he also exhibits a natural innocence. 2. Inner Conflict: Throughout the film, Jojo’s worldview is challenged, especially when he discovers that his mother, Rosie, is hiding a Jewish girl named Elsa in their home. At first, Jojo is terrified of Elsa because of the hateful stereotypes he's learned, but his interactions with her gradually break down his prejudices. Jojo's internal struggle between his indoctrination and his growing empathy for Elsa is the emotional core of the film. 3. Relationship with his mother: Jojo has a close and tender relationship with his mother, Rosie, who secretly opposes the Nazi regime. Rosie represents love, kindness, and resistance to hatred. She tries to shield Jojo from the horrors of war while subtly encouraging him to think for himself. Their relationship is heartwarming and highlights the themes of love overcoming hate.  4. Development and Maturity: As Jojo learns more about Elsa, his beliefs shift. He begins to see the absurdity of the ideology he once embraced. His imaginary Hitler friend becomes increasingly less funny and more aggressive as Jojo starts questioning Nazi principles. Jojo's transformation from a brainwashed child to a more open-minded and compassionate individual is one of the film’s central arcs. 5. Symbol of Lost Innocence: Jojo embodies the loss of innocence in wartime. His initial blind loyalty to Hitler contrasts with his eventual rejection of hate and propaganda. The film balances humour with the serious subject matter of a child's experience of war, and Jojo's journey reflects the potential for personal change, even in the darkest of times. Ultimately, Jojo Betzler is a symbol of hope, growth, and humanity, offering a message that even those who have been indoctrinated into hate can learn to choose love and empathy instead. His coming-of-age story is both humorous and deeply touching in the context of one of history’s most tragic periods. ROSIE Jojo's mother, Rosie, is executed by the Nazi regime in Jojo Rabbit because of her involvement in resistance activities against Adolf Hitler's regime. Rosie strongly opposes the Nazi ideology and works secretly to undermine it. Throughout the film, it's hinted that she is part of an anti-Nazi resistance movement, distributing pamphlets and helping those who are persecuted, including hiding Elsa, a Jewish girl, in her home. Rosie's execution serves as a devastating and tragic turning point in the film. Jojo discovers her death when he sees her hanging in the town square, a brutal reminder of the cost of standing up against the oppressive regime. Her death underscores her bravery and moral integrity—Rosie believed in love, freedom, and humanity, even in the face of the most extreme consequences. Her death profoundly impacts Jojo, forcing him to confront the harsh realities of the world he had been blinded to by Nazi propaganda. It plays a crucial role in Jojo’s eventual rejection of hate and his embrace of empathy and love. ELSA In Jojo Rabbit, Elsa, the Jewish girl Rosie is secretly hiding, lives in a hidden compartment behind a false wall in Jojo's sister Inge’s bedroom. The hiding spot is concealed by a large bookshelf, making it difficult for anyone to discover her. This secret space becomes a significant setting in the film, as Jojo initially discovers Elsa there by accident. At first, Jojo is frightened and confused by her presence, but over time, his interactions with her lead to a deep change in his beliefs and understanding of the world. Elsa hiding in Inge’s room also serves as a poignant symbol of loss and replacement, as Jojo slowly forms a bond with Elsa, filling the emotional void left by his sister’s death. In Jojo Rabbit, Elsa is around 17 years old. She is a Jewish teenager hiding from the Nazis in Jojo's house, and her age is significant in relation to Jojo, who is 10 years old. The age difference highlights their contrasting levels of maturity: while Jojo is still a naive, indoctrinated child, Elsa has been forced to grow up quickly due to the hardships and dangers she faces as a Jew during World War II. Their evolving relationship, with Jojo initially viewing her as an enemy and later developing empathy and affection for her, reflects the film’s themes of overcoming prejudice and learning to see people beyond stereotypes. CAPTAIN KLENZENDORF Captain Klenzendorf is running the training camp for Hitler Youth boys, primarily because he has been demoted from a more prestigious position due to his perceived failures during the war. He mentions that he was injured and can no longer serve on the front lines, which led to his reassignment to a relatively less important role—running the youth camp. This camp, designed to indoctrinate young boys with Nazi ideology and train them for eventual military service, serves as a farcical reflection of the larger war effort. Klenzendorf is clearly disillusioned with the Nazi regime and the war itself, and this is reflected in his cynical, often apathetic approach to his duties. His character embodies the absurdity of the Nazi regime's final days, when even officers like him realise the futility of their efforts. Despite his role in the camp, he becomes one of the few adults in Jojo's life who shows signs of genuine care and subversive resistance, particularly as the film progresses and Klenzendorf's disillusionment grows. FRAULEIN RAHM Fraulein Rahm’s line, “I’ve had 18 kids for Germany. Such a great year to be a girl,” is a darkly satirical reflection of Nazi ideology, particularly its emphasis on women’s role in producing offspring to support the war effort and the Aryan race. Nazi propaganda heavily promoted motherhood as a duty to the state, rewarding women for having many children. Fraulein Rahm’s pride in having 18 kids is an exaggerated, absurd portrayal of this ideology. Her phrase “such a great year to be a girl” carries ironic humour, as it suggests that women are being celebrated, but only in terms of their ability to produce children for the state, rather than for any personal fulfilment or equal societal status. The film uses such lines to criticise and mock the absurdity of Nazi beliefs while maintaining a lighthearted, satirical tone. JOJO’S FATHER (PAUL) Jojo's father, who is largely absent throughout the film, remains a mysterious figure, but there are a few key details about him: 1. He's fighting against the Nazis: it is implied that Jojo’s father is not just absent because of war but because he is involved in fighting against the Nazi regime. Jojo’s mother, Rosie, mentions that his father is "doing what he can" and subtly indicates that he is part of the resistance, working against Hitler’s forces. This aligns with Rosie's own secret resistance activities, suggesting that the family (or at least the parents) oppose the Nazi regime. 2. Jojo idolises him: Jojo, lacking a father figure in his life, holds an idealised version of his father. He seems to believe that his father is a heroic figure fighting for Germany on the front lines, likely because that’s what he’s been told or what he wants to believe, despite the reality being more complex. 3. Jojo’s father is absent for most of Jojo’s life: though the film doesn’t explicitly detail whether he has deserted, been captured, or is working in secret, his absence weighs heavily on Jojo. The lack of a father figure, combined with Jojo's youth and impressionable nature, makes him vulnerable to Nazi propaganda and the influence of imaginary Hitler as his  stand-in father figure. 4. Rosie’s feelings for him: Rosie continues to wear his shoes around the house, which suggests that despite his absence, she remains connected to him emotionally. She speaks about him lovingly but also practically, indicating that the family's dynamic has been affected by the circumstances of war and resistance. Overall, Jojo's father is an idealised but largely absent figure, with his true actions and whereabouts remaining ambiguous, serving as a backdrop to Jojo’s internal conflict and Rosie’s quiet resistance against the Nazi regime. MESSAGE OF THE FILM: The message of Jojo Rabbit centres around themes of the absurdity of hate, the dangers of indoctrination, and the transformative power of love and empathy. By blending satire and heartfelt moments, the film conveys several key ideas: 1. The Absurdity of Hatred and Extremism: One of the central messages is the sheer absurdity of hate, particularly the type of hatred perpetuated by Nazism. The film uses comedy and satire to show how irrational and ridiculous the ideology of the Nazis was. Jojo's imaginary friend, a comical and exaggerated version of Adolf Hitler, represents the blind fanaticism that Jojo has been indoctrinated into. As Jojo matures, he starts to see how baseless and absurd his hatred is, especially through his growing relationship with Elsa, the Jewish girl his mother is hiding. The film suggests that hate is often based on ignorance, and once people begin to see others as human beings, hate can no longer hold power. 2. The Dangers of Indoctrination: Jojo Rabbit highlights how dangerous it is to indoctrinate children with hateful ideologies. Jojo, at the start of the film, has fully embraced Nazi propaganda without understanding its real implications. His worldview has been shaped by lies and fanaticism, leading him to idolise Hitler and believe in harmful stereotypes. The film warns that children, being impressionable, are especially vulnerable to extremist ideologies, and it takes positive, humanising experiences to break free from such indoctrination. 3. The Transformative Power of Love and Empathy: The relationship between Jojo and his mother, Rosie, as well as his growing bond with Elsa, demonstrates how love and empathy can overcome hatred and prejudice. Rosie represents the moral heart of the film—she is against the Nazi regime and fights for a better world, teaching Jojo to find his own way. Jojo's eventual empathy for Elsa, which grows as he gets to know her as a person rather than an abstract enemy, is key to his transformation. The film suggests that empathy—understanding someone else's struggles—has the power to break down barriers of hate. 4. The Importance of Personal Growth and Moral Choice: The film also touches on the idea that it is possible to change, even after being immersed in harmful beliefs. Jojo's journey reflects this: though he starts as a fervent Nazi Youth, he eventually realises the wrongness of his beliefs and chooses love and humanity over hatred. This change happens through personal growth, difficult realisations, and the moral choices he makes. It shows that, even in a world full of hate, people have the capacity to grow and make better decisions. 5. Resilience in the Face of Oppression: Jojo Rabbit also highlights the resilience of people who oppose authoritarian regimes. Elsa's strength in hiding, Rosie's quiet resistance, and the ultimate defeat of Nazi Germany symbolise that, even in the darkest of times, the human spirit can endure and fight back. Rosie’s line to Jojo, “We have to dance to show God we are still alive,” encapsulates this resilience—finding hope and joy in the face of oppression. In essence, Jojo Rabbit delivers a message that love, empathy, and understanding are far more powerful than hate and ignorance. It uses humour to highlight the ridiculousness of extremist ideologies, while delivering a poignant reminder that, even in the midst of war and fanaticism, personal growth and the choice to embrace humanity can triumph. MOTIFS Jojo Rabbit is rich in motifs that reinforce its themes of innocence, indoctrination, love, and humanity amidst the horrors of war. Here are some of the key motifs in the film: 1. Shoes Shoes play a recurring symbolic role in Jojo Rabbit, particularly with Rosie and Elsa. There are several scenes that emphasise Rosie’s shoes, especially the heartbreaking moment where Jojo sees them after she has been hanged. Jojo notices his mother's shoes while she is dancing on the sidewalk and it becomes the way he is able to recognise her hanging in the gallows. The shoes symbolise Rosie’s nurturing, freedom, and humanity.  They also reflect Jojo's growing awareness and his eventual understanding of the brutal reality of the world around him. Throughout the film, shoes are used as a symbol of love and humanity. Rosie is constantly shown tying Jojo's shoes as a demonstration of affection. Her identity is tied to her shoes in such a way that often there are shots of just her feet dancing, showing that life isn't all about war, and growing up. It is also significant that Jojo flings out his imaginary Hitler by kicking him with his boots. This represents his rejection of Hitler’s propaganda. Jojo’s development / coming-of-age journey is reflected in the progression of Jojo’s mother lacing up his shoes to Jojo lacing up her shoes. 2. Butterflies Butterflies are used to symbolise Jojo's feelings of love and transformation. There's a scene where Jojo sees Elsa for the first time, and the camera shows butterflies around him. Butterflies also signify Jojo's personal growth—his journey from blind fanaticism to questioning and eventually rejecting Nazi ideology. 3. Uniforms and Identity Throughout the film, uniforms serve as a motif for identity, control, and conformity. Jojo is initially obsessed with his Nazi uniform, believing it to give him purpose and a sense of belonging in the Hitler Youth. As the film progresses, the importance of these uniforms begins to diminish for Jojo, symbolising his disillusionment with the Nazi regime and his evolving sense  of individual morality. 4. Rosie’s Dance Jojo’s mother, Rosie, often expresses her joy and freedom through dancing, telling Jojo that “dancing is for people who are free.” Her dance is a motif of defiance against the oppressive Nazi regime and a symbol of the hope and joy that life can offer despite the war. After her death, Jojo dances with Elsa in the final scene of the movie, which reflects Jojo's newfound freedom and release from hate. 5. Imaginary Adolf Hitler Jojo’s imaginary friend, a goofy version of Adolf Hitler, is a motif representing Jojo’s internalised Nazi propaganda and his youthful need for guidance. As Jojo becomes more disillusioned with Nazi ideology, his interactions with the imaginary Hitler become more strained, eventually culminating in Jojo rejecting him entirely. This mirrors Jojo’s personal growth and the collapse of his blind fanaticism. 6. The Knife Jojo’s knife, which he initially carries as a symbol of bravery and loyalty to the Nazi cause, also becomes a motif. He uses it to confront Elsa, but it ultimately becomes symbolic of his conflicted feelings—his fear, anger, and eventually his protective instincts toward Elsa. The knife, which is a weapon in the hands of a child, symbolises Jojo’s immaturity and misguided understanding of courage. 7. The rabbit  In Jojo Rabbit, the "rabbit" isn’t an actual animal, but rather a symbolic representation of the main character, Johannes "Jojo" Betzler, a young German boy during World War II. Jojo is given the nickname "rabbit" after he refuses to kill a rabbit during a Hitler Youth training exercise, which is seen as a sign of weakness by his peers. The label "rabbit" becomes a metaphor for Jojo's innocence, kindness, and vulnerability, traits that conflict with the harsh and violent ideology around him. Throughout the film, Jojo grapples with his beliefs, especially after discovering that his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home. This experience, and the inner journey he undergoes, lead Jojo to shed his blind allegiance to Nazi propaganda and embrace compassion, represented by the "rabbit" in him finally standing up to his fears. The rabbit in the cage in Jojo's book represents Jojo himself, trapped by the limitations and propaganda of the Nazi ideology. Jojo sketches this rabbit to symbolize how he feels restricted, fearful, and vulnerable. Like a caged animal, Jojo is held back by the beliefs he’s been indoctrinated with, unable to explore his true self or develop his own moral compass. As the film progresses and Jojo begins to question these beliefs—especially after forming a bond with Elsa, the Jewish girl hiding in his home—the idea of being a "caged rabbit" fades. This visual metaphor plays a key role in highlighting Jojo’s journey from a fearful, indoctrinated boy to a courageous, independent thinker who ultimately breaks free from the constraints of hate and prejudice. BURNING OF BOOKS The book-burning scene in Jojo Rabbit is a reflection of historical events during Nazi Germany, where book burnings were a tool of propaganda used to control information and enforce ideological conformity. In the film, the burning of books represents the systematic destruction of ideas, knowledge, and cultures that the Nazis deemed "un-German" or dangerous to their worldview, particularly anything that challenged their racist, anti-Semitic, and authoritarian ideology. For Jojo, a 10-year-old boy who is part of the Hitler Youth, the book burning is initially seen as an exciting and patriotic event, reinforcing his belief in the Nazi cause. However, for the audience, it serves as a disturbing reminder of the regime’s censorship, repression, and hatred. The burning of books is symbolic of the way the Nazis tried to eliminate intellectual freedom and diversity of thought, replacing it with their rigid and oppressive ideology. MUSIC "Jojo's March" is a key piece of music from the film Jojo Rabbit (2019), directed by Taika Waititi. The song plays during one of the opening scenes where the main character, Jojo, a 10-year-old boy living in Nazi Germany, is seen enthusiastically preparing to attend a Hitler Youth camp. The scene is satirical and meant to highlight Jojo's youthful naivety and the absurdity of Nazi propaganda. The march itself is upbeat, in line with traditional military marches, but its tone contrasts sharply with the absurdity of what the film portrays—a child caught up in fascist indoctrination. The film uses music in several moments to juxtapose the innocence of childhood with the darker, more serious backdrop of the war and Nazi ideology. This balance of satire and tragedy is central to the tone of Jojo Rabbit. HOW DID JOJO GET HIS NAME? Jojo ends up in the hospital after a dramatic accident that occurs during a training exercise at the Hitler Youth camp. Early in Jojo Rabbit, Jojo is eager to prove himself as a devoted Nazi, fully embracing the propaganda and ideology instilled in him by the Hitler Youth and his imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler. During the camp, Jojo is pressured by other boys and Captain Klenzendorf to kill a rabbit as a test of his loyalty and bravery, but he is unable to do it. This earns him the cruel nickname "Jojo Rabbit" and leaves him feeling ashamed and determined to prove his worth. To show his bravery, Jojo recklessly grabs a live grenade during a training session and tries to throw it. However, the grenade bounces off a nearby tree and explodes right next to him. The explosion causes serious injuries, and Jojo ends up in the hospital as a result. When he wakes up, he has scars on his face and body, and he walks with a limp. This incident not only changes Jojo physically but also marks the beginning of his deeper personal transformation throughout the film, as he starts to question the Nazi ideology he's been taught. After Jojo is injured and unable to continue regular Hitler Youth activities, he is given a relatively minor and somewhat demeaning job at the Nazi Youth Party office. Captain Klenzendorf, who is running the office, assigns Jojo tasks like distributing propaganda pamphlets, collecting scrap metal for the war effort, and delivering messages around town. These are simple tasks, suited for a boy who can no longer fully participate in more physical activities due to his injuries. Though these duties seem trivial, they allow Jojo to remain connected to the Nazi cause, which he still believes in at this point. It’s through his time working at the office, and particularly through his interactions with Captain Klenzendorf and others, that Jojo begins to see the cracks in the Nazi ideology and starts questioning what he’s been taught, setting the stage for his eventual disillusionment.