Reel Spirit Movie Project
March 18 Film Discussion
Jojo Rabbit
Center for Spiritual Wisdom’s March film selection is Jojo Rabbit. The Center will host a community discussion of the film on March 18, 2021 from 7:00-9:00 pm. Jojo Rabbit, a satirical comedy directed by Taika Waititi, follows the life of a young boy, Jojo Betzler, growing up in Germany near the conclusion of the Second World War. Betzler is an enthusiastic member of the Hitler Youth who lionizes Adolf Hitler to the point of bringing him to life as his imaginary best friend, played by Waititi. Jojo’s life is turned upside down when he discovers that his mother, played by Scarlett Johansson, is secretly sheltering a Jewish girl in their attic.
As Jojo gets to know this new resident, he is confronted with two starkly differing realities: the one that has been told to him is true by society, and the one he is experiencing firsthand. As his town prepares for its last stand against allied forces, Jojo is pushed to make difficult decisions around where his allegiances lie, who he should trust, and what it means to be a man.
Waititi masterfully addresses a deeply serious era with levity and humor, while still ensuring his film is steeped with meaning and emotion. The film was nominated for six academy awards including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Johansson), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Waititi), which it won.
For more information about Jojo Rabbit, see IMDB here. You can also view the trailer on YouTube here.
Since we are still practicing social distancing due to COVID-19, participants are asked to view Jojo Rabbit before the discussion on March 18. The Center will lead and host electronically through Zoom. The 2-hour discussion will be facilitated by Tim Gillman and Amanda Drain. Tim and Amanda live in DC, where they have been enjoying the fruitful discussions from the Center’s Reel Spirit Movie Project, so much so that they asked to facilitate a discussion on one of their favorites, Jojo Rabbit. There is no charge for this event, but participants are asked to please consider a donation to Center for Spiritual Wisdom.
To register or receive additional information, please email Cindy Decker at communications@centersw.org. Registrations will be received on a first-come, first-served basis. To make a donation, please go click HERE at the CSW web site. After registration, participants will receive information about the film and a dedicated link to join the discussion.
Stay tuned for other movie discussions planned by the Reel Spirit Movie Project, including The War, our April selection.
photo credits: netflix.com and newyorker.com
