Jojo Rabbit is a new film from New Zealander Taika Waititi – and it doesn’t look like the most normal plot. It sees Waititi play an alternative version of Adolf Hitler, who serves as an imaginary friend to a young Hitler Youth (Roman Griffin Davis). Despite this, the film is filled with jokes and humour – so how old do you have to be to see Jojo Rabbit?
How old do you have to be to see Jojo Rabbit?
Jojo Rabbit is a comedy-drama, featuring a 10-year-old Hitler Youth in Germany.
While he is seemingly dedicated to his cause, his world is turned upside down when he discovers his kind-hearted mother (Scarlett Johansson) is helping to hide a Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in his home.
He is suddenly dealt a dilemma of how to respond to this – does he confess to his Hitler Youth trainers (Sam Rockwell and Rebel Wilson) or protect his mother by keeping schtum?
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As the storyline of the film is rather different from your average comedy, it makes sense that the film has a 12A certificate, meaning those under 12 must be accompanied by an adult to the cinema.
According to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), the film may contain material which is generally not suitable for children under 12, so it is advised that parents consider this before taking their young kids along.
The BBFC’s guidelines on 12A movies state: “Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12.
“No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult.
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“Adults planning to take a child under 12 to view a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable for that child.”
The ratings info for Jojo Rabbit gives more information as to what particular scenes could cause some concern for parents, including the fact that the film is set in the context of Hitler Youth.
***Warning – Jojo Rabbit spoilers
The ratings info states: “The story occurs within the context of the Hitler Youth, in which children are indoctrinated into Nazi ideology, taught to adopt discriminatory views concerning Jewish people, and exposed to absurd anti-Semitic propaganda.
“This includes characterisations of Jewish people as monsters. The main character also has an imaginary friendship with Adolf Hitler, who reinforces these prejudices and uses anti-Semitic language such as ‘Jewey cow’ and ‘dirty Jew’.
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“Though the boy initially joins in, he comes to question it through his burgeoning friendship with a Jewish girl.
“There is aftermath sight of public hangings, including an upsetting scene in which a child finds his mother hanged in the street.
“There is also bloody injury detail during battle scenes when gunfire is exchanged between German and Allied soldiers.
“In another scene, a boy attacks a girl with a knife and draws blood. There’s also a sequence in which a rabbit is killed.
“In one scene a child sustains facial injuries during an accident involving explosives.
“Sex references include references to British soldiers having sex with dogs.
“There is infrequent strong language (‘f**k’), as well as milder terms such as ’s**t’.”
Parents should bear these guidelines in mind before deciding whether or not their children should see the movie, though it is also worth remembering much of the film make light of many of the issues it tackles.
Jojo Rabbit is in cinemas now