"Jojo's Fantastic World": Painful growth under the absurd story, Hitler under the black comedy

The 92nd Oscar is destined to be recorded in the annals of history. Before, Jacques Phoenix contributed textbook-like acting skills in "Joker", and later, "1917" directed by Sam Mendes used a single shot to render the war. The cruelty. Unsurprisingly, the shortlist announced not long ago, "Joker" undoubtedly leads with 11 nominations. But reading this long list carefully, Scarlett Johansson is an unforgettable name.

won two nominations for "Best Actress" and "Best Supporting Actress" for the first time as an Oscar nominee. "Marriage Story" was a full house as soon as it was released. The audience was amazed by her performance and made the audience realize that they were wearing tights. Scarlett Johansson, who plays the role of a sexy agent in leather, is still a powerful actor that should not be underestimated. In addition to the real and delicate performances in "Marriage Story", Scarlett also played a maverick and intelligent mother in "Jojo's Fantasy World", and this movie even won the "most Six Oscar nominations including "Best Movie" and "Best Supporting Actress", a comedy with children as the protagonist, why is it so applauded? Is a comedy with a unique spiritual core the best of the comedy genre?

Children’s perspective makes the audience empathetic.

This film uses the perspective of a ten-year-old boy, Joe Joe, to show the German society when the Second World War was on the verge of defeat. In fact, Hollywood movies similar to it are not uncommon. The "Beautiful Life", which was released after 4k restoration not long ago, is also a movie that portrays the emotions and sorrows of small people during World War II to show the macro society. The two films have common features. The background of the story has different expressions and spiritual connotations.

The difference between "Jojo's Fantasy World" and other movies of the same theme is that children are the subject of observation, and this is like using a polygonal prism to observe the outside world, giving the audience more references and perspectives. Children's values ​​have not yet formed, they do not have a correct and clear understanding of the outside world, and they look at things from both good and evil perspectives. In contrast, they are more susceptible to external influences and assimilation. Fromm mentioned that psychological factors are an element that cannot be ignored when talking about Nazism. In the film, Jojo’s initial yearning for the Nazis and fear of Jews all come from collective power, and the psychological factor of surrender to collective power also makes At the beginning of the film, the little protagonist is not so politically correct.

intricate contradictions to achieve climax plot

In addition, this film also strives to portray various contradictions, through the contrast and intensification of contradictions, the director shows Jojo’s inner struggles and subtle changes in front of the audience, so that the audience can go deeper. Qiao Qiao’s inner world brings the audience an experience of rejuvenation, allowing the viewer to experience a painful growth with Qiao Qiao. Only when we go deep into it can we truly experience this experience from the perspective of children and feel the story of the film together. Connotation.

For example, there is a great contrast between the Hitler imagined by Joe Joe and the Hitler in history. The humorous and humorous Hitler in Jojo’s fantasy. When Jojo wants to back down, he will cheer him up. Jojo talks to him all the time, and he has always been a patient listener. In this way, as the plot unfolds , Jojo and "Hitler" became good friends. Such a plot setting is undoubtedly the director's careful choreography, and many jokes were born from this.

Another contradiction comes from Qiaoqiao himself. He is kind by nature, has no specific concept of war, and is even more unfamiliar with killing. Although he was excited because he got a dagger, it really made him kill the rabbit, but he couldn't do it. He was lonely. Although Germany had already lost ground and defeat was imminent, the domestic people were still immersed in collective unconscious madness, blindly following the head of state, and keen on war and killing. Therefore, Qiaoqiao was destined to be ridiculed. And portraying this contradiction is also to pave the way for the subsequent plot. The young Joe Joe of will eventually experience growth, will eventually say goodbye to his imaginary friend, and will eventually learn to part with and leave.

She taught him to love, to teach him to grow up

Jojo’s life has undergone earth-shaking changes, and she gradually has her own consciousness, philosophy and thought-form from the Jewish girl named Aisha. In further contact with Aisha, JoeJoe gradually changed his stereotyped negative impression of Jews, using his own feelings and touches to reveal the truth of life step by step, and at the same time learned to respect the Jewish nation. Before that, Jojo desperately wanted to be a Nazi, and such a change was undoubtedly huge. In addition to his good nature, Aisha is also a key factor. Qiaoqiao is lonely, not only because he has few friends, but also because in such a special era, he is an alien and a minority. He is eager to understand and love, even if he does not fully understand what love is. At this time Aisha broke into his life and established a close and sincere friendship with him. 's prejudice was indeed vulnerable to love.

Joe Joe's other guiding line is his hidden mother. Scarlett’s mother is childlike, lively and cheerful. She will go out in pajamas with Jojo, and when Jojo subconsciously escapes from death, she will correctly lead him to look directly at death. His mother became a bifurcated creek in Jojo’s life, and it made Jojo gradually realize that besides the flood of "Nazis", there should be other things in life. There should be love, flowers, and butterflies. . The cruelty of war lies not only in depriving people of their lives, but also in imprisoning people’s thoughts and restraining people’s freedom, but Jojo’s mother has never given up guiding Jojo to discover the beauty and love of life, compared to violent and indoctrinating education Qiaoqiao’s mother’s persuasive guidance is more like winter sunshine, giving people a warm and upward force.

The commendable point of "Jojo's Fantastic World" is the unintentional statement of right and wrong, it just fully and meticulously shows the growth and psychological changes of a boy. The growth of Qiaoqiao also gave the audience a thought: people are human because of tolerance and understanding, tolerance of the differences between others and themselves, and understanding of the plight of others. The reason why people are beautiful is that they have free thoughts and perception of life.

I really like the clip of Jojo meeting Hitler in his mind again towards the end of the film. "Hitler" roared loudly and asked Jojo to put on the Nazi armband and return to him again, while Jojo just watched indifferently He then threw the armband on the ground. The growth of is painful after all. It means that we will have to make choices, know how to pick up some things, but also be willing to give up some things. This may be a small step in our growth, but it is the same as ourselves. An indescribable parting. We must learn to say goodbye to the past, which is no less than killing the past ourselves with our own hands. I don't know if Jojo will regret it, but I know he will be grateful that this damn war is finally over.