Taika Waititi Gets Serious About Why ‘Jojo Rabbit’ Had to Be a Comedy - IndieWire Awards Spotlight

It took a while. But Waititi found the gentle comedic tone for this Hitler comedy that has been embraced by movie audiences.
Taika Waititi, the 44-year-old actor-writer-director, comes from a small town of a few hundred people in New Zealand where film was not on the list of job opportunities. He went on the dole when he left high school, put on plays in his 20s, and was over 30 when he started making shorts (Oscar-winner “Two Cars, One Night”) and directing television and such acclaimed features as “Boy.”
Back in 2010, Waititi fell in love with his mother’s description of “Caging Skies,” a 2004 book from New Zealand author Christine Leunens, which he decided to adapt into a screenplay, focusing on the first part of the story about a ten-year-old Nazi youth, to which he added a new character, imaginary friend Adolf Hitler.
As Waititi wrote the script, he had no idea how it would be received. “It’s a very lonely business,” he said in our video interview, above. “I’ve written everything by myself…it’s usually me pacing up and down hallways, having a lot of dialogue with myself, with my characters, staring at the computer screen and going to sleep.”
He knew that shopping for backers for the film could be tricky. “The pitching of the film was always going to be awkward,” he said. “You can’t start with ‘it’s a lighthearted look at the atrocities of World War II.’ The script spoke for itself when it was shopped around town in Hollywood.” When Waititi sent the script to the talent agencies, while he didn’t score any financial backers, the script gained cred by landing on the 2012 Black List. “Most studios got it more when they read it.”
Then Waititi directed three movies that connected with audiences: “What We Do in the Shadows,” “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” and Marvel sequel “Thor: Ragnarok.” That’s when Oscar perennial Fox Searchlight (“Birdman,” “The Shape of Water”) told him they wanted him to make his “weird World War II film,” he said. And suggested that he, not some marquee name, play Hitler. He assembled an eclectic cast including Oscar-winner Sam Rockwell (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”) as a sympathetic Nazi officer, young Brit Roman Griffin Davis as Jojo, and Scarlett Johansson as his mother, who hides a young Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) behind a wall in his house. She fights for dominance with Jojo’s imaginary friend. “I love this idea that it’s this weird love triangle where Hitler starts getting jealous: ‘oh you’re trying to get a new best friend,'” said Waititi. “For me it’s a really simple way of showing the conflict in Jojo.”
The morning after “Jojo Rabbit” made its world premiere, Waititi was confused. His movie played through the roof with audiences who cheered the light-hearted but serious fable about a lonely boy and his imaginary Nazi friend. But the next day, the daring film was hovering in the 50s on Metacritic. That doesn’t always matter with Oscar voters (see blockbuster Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Metascore: 49). Searchlight introduced “Jojo Rabbit” at TIFF for a reason: they hoped it would score rapturous audience response and the coveted People’s Choice Award won by their eventual Oscar-winners “Slumdog Millionaire” and “12 Years a Slave.” And so “Jojo Rabbit” did, on its way to passing $20 million at the fall box office. To get to Best Picture, a movie has to grab attention, become a must-see hit, and play well for the Academy voters. “Jojo Rabbit” is well on its way.

[@dob1997]

I loved this movie so so much. I love how he retains a sense of depth in characters and emotions even when making jokes. Other hollywood films are so emotionally absent recently, but his characters were real and loveable and human.

[@sjaufar7561]

Loved this movie, but seriously how many MORE times will Taika get asked how did you pitch this movie?

[@WondrousPurple]

I loved the movie, too. He'll be asked that question as much as Saoirse Ronan is asked how her first name is pronounced: low hanging-fruit for interviews.

[@emmadadiddit7086]

To be fair a lot of these interview happened around the same time. It's not like each interviewer got to see all previous interviews and determine what questions not to ask. They probably mostly came to that question on their own. It's an obvious one, but if I were interviewing TW for Jojo Rabbit I would ask it too.

[@sidneylin4392]

taika waititi king of making me cry 3 separate times in 90 min and laugh my ass off in between the crying

[@tallulahmlocean6386]

Would be quite entertaining to see Taika host SNL such brilliant hilarity.

[@sharonkkt]

Yessssssssssss, please someone let this happen

[@MrLowkeynz]

"Those guys were just ridiculous" - wonderfully understated

[@kikia6611]

I haven't seen the movie yet but love the quirky Kiwi sense of humor. I think I'm a displaced New Zealander lol. Really respect how he uses Maori actors in all his films.

[@anastasiaroe7181]

its so good!

[@user-jo9tj4cp1h]

go see it, I took my son (12 years), and a week later we took his mum....

[@ButterflyGhostBFG]

One of the few films I watched where the audience was laughing out loud in the cinema (I'm from England, we don't really do that here). I laughed a lot. Then those shoes. Fucking Hell, just felt like a punch in the stomach. Such an amazing film. My friend and I were discussing Taika the other day and he thinks Taika must have made a deal with the Devil to be so talented and successful :D I love the guy

[@jogo5732]

Taika - the man who gives such interviews that they have to put "TAIKA GETS SERIOUS" in the normal ones, that are few exceptions xD

[@Fuzzybunny1925]

Check out his other movies like what we do in the shadows,hunt for the wilderpeople and boy.. absolute classics..

[@nahailyenvanakkor]

What do we do in the shadows was a bit too much for me, but the other two I really liked.

[@p.s.csdeaky8530]

@@nahailyenvanakkor I haven't watched it, I have watched the short though, but how was a bit too much for you?

[@p.s.csdeaky8530]

I prefer Boy than Jojo Rabbit, but if it wasn't for Jojo, I wouldn't have known Boy.

[@hildalilja6649]

I LOVE WHAT WE SO IN THE SHADOWS!!! And i watched hunt for the wilderpeople yesterday, it was very very good.

[@Fuzzybunny1925]

@@hildalilja6649 apparently they have turned what we do in the shadows a TV show..haven't watched it yet so I can't really comment on it..

[@ethanabben]

This movie was incredible!

[@setsana_inc]

OH SNAP HE'S STILL DOING INTERVIEWS YES!!!

[@AlerieHightower]

Right? Between What We Do In the Shadows, Thor, and Jojo, I bet I've probably watched over 20 hours of Taika interviews. I need a life.

[@dajnova1148]

Juli N life without Taika’s interviews is meaningless anyway. Lol I need more Taika in my life.

[@curiousworld7912]

This was my favorite movie of the year. I loved 'What We Do in the Shadows' and 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople', and this was everything - and more - of what I love about Taika Waititi's film making.

[@maryfreebed9886]

Mr. Waititi, your film and your acting were both brilliant. I hope you see this.

[@jenniferbloomfield3656]

"We are in neutral territory, this table is now Switzerland" best line ever.

[@dukevega1972]

Loved Taika's reaction at 4:55 when Fox Searchlight told him they wanted to make "Jojo".

[@leeniraukola5168]

I absolutely loved this movie

[@taitkers]

I so much enjoy watching Taika explain things. He's so thoughtful and intelligent and sweet. Super enjoy it. I fell in love with him with his TED talk.

[@georgemyers5585]

Phenomenal film

[@maijacalcagno]

I have that sleep reaction to stress as well. Maybe it’s a Poly thing? Haha. Seriously though. The film was beautifully funny and sad.

[@csen27]

I love him so freakin much.❤️

[@stephanieloffel1618]

I read the book after thoroughly loving the movie. I can say jojo is a beautiful conceptual boy and taika did a wonderful job of incorporating little Easter eggs I guess in the movie that gave me a whole different ending than in the book. So glad that having a different aspect can show a person's life in so many ways. thanks to his mum for the recommendation. ✌👍 #cagingskies

[@Catherinee]

Ironically Taika has gotten more pale after moving to LA

[@filo4854]

He never mentioned Boy in the movies he's done. Or Eagle VsShark

[@rhysioeren3203]

he did an amazing work with jojo rabbit, no doubt of it. looking forward what is next for him.

[@editating_2614]

Don't look forward or anywhere near that

[@drobbi]

nice room. Where's the buffet?

[@cinthiaromero7200]

what a movie and what a man

[@ikkivalencia9782]

Great movie i cried 😭

[@jennym007]

I didn't get the last comment about lightening bolts...? (I haven't seen the movie yet)

[@fallvegdow]

Some insignias on a nazi uniforms. Sig rune most likely.

[@rezolutionist7715]

Hermann Going.

[@isaactonks8343]

Is taika ever going to make a bad movie ❤️

[@editating_2614]

Yuuuup

[@Angels-3xist]

Imma hang this thumbnail up in my bathroom

[@charlottepeeters8487]

And jou have a Hitler mustaches hahaha

[@kyhxx]

*

[@charlottepeeters8487]

You are so much better

[@susancoleman4449]

Watched this with the family. My husband was laughing his head off. My son and I didn't like it. Although, it was a creative piece of work. Kudos!

[@Nazaba09]

Susan Coleman it’s a dark comedy. Not everyone is going to laugh. I’m disabled and the things I think are funny, people are horrified by.

[@Spiritcrusher86]

Great director, bad interview.

[@wickedwaiata2939]

3rd

[@dob1997]

Second

[@Surf_turf]

he is going to ruin Thor 4 chris Hemsworth is being replaced

[@kang.78]

He sounds like he is on something in this video.

[@nem447]

lol i was thinking the opposite, he's not high for once hahaha

[@Sunnyiak]

I know a few Maori Kiwis and collectively they have Taika’s sense of humor and sound similar. Very self deprecating. They call it the “tall poppy” syndrome

[@boshvasara1868]

Nah trust me... if you have met a kiwi than this is how they talk and present themselves. Very humble people

[@chrisjenkins963]

It only works as a comedy, but it makes the lynching scene feel even more out place. Not sure why grieving a lost mother fits into this movie at all, especially when it doesn't serve as motivation and his perspective had already been changing Loved the movie but the 2nd act was too slow and dramatic at times

[@harlinaindra6679]

Maybe the 2nd act is more for those who are less into comedy ?

[@juliomonrroyperez6561]

Well, in my point of view, the story tells perfectly the growth in just six months at the ending of the war for our young leading man. To ask for that, is like, why his sister is gone in the first place? Was because of her dark hair or she was taken allong with other fighthing hitlerian younlings? In that case that's a testimony of how any kind of nationalism brings devastation, and can take the will of your childrens away. Even being of their own "nature". According to that, his mother just before the scene than break a lot of hearts, is seen as an optimistic person who fights against the censorship, and evil in general, and still cheers her son to live "u have ten, you should have..." Beautifull momento in film history just like La vida es Bella de Begnini. Btw, Scarlett is amazing, stunning, she have a good year with Jojo and Marriage Story, same for Lupita Nyong'O with Us and Little Monsters at the same time. From something not so funny to hillarious roles yet with a performance so deep. So proud for cinema, what an era

[@dajnova1148]

The lynching is that much more stark when you are lulled into comfort by comedy. And it was a final nail into the coffin of indoctrination. Jojo was slowly changing and going in the right direction. He would have gotten there eventually. But this way he was violently torn out of it.

[@LordosisProduction]

Without the lynching, there is no second half to the movie. The boy must himself experiment the consequences of the Nazi party to properly earn his character transformation. You can also still laugh in the second half of the movie. Think of the rabbit scene at the beginning, anyone turned off by onscreen innocent death has been warned at that point.

[@aaronsouthan7798]

I've always seen it as the comedy elevates the tragedy and vice-versa. You see it in things like the show Scrubs. I love it when a director/showrunner can perfectly blend the tones and Jojo Rabbit i felt did it extremely effectively.