“Jojo Rabbit,” April 2

Thursday, April 2, 6 p.m.

Figge Art Museum, 225 West Second Street, Davenport IA

With the Oscar-winning comedy hailed by USA Today as a "brilliant Nazi-mocking satire," writer/director Taiki Waititi's Jojo Rabbit enjoys a free screening at Davenport's Figge Art Museum on April 2, this season's Free Film at the Figge series presenting a selection of distinguished, award-winning films that represent the very best in provocative, suspenseful filmmaking set in the context of authoritarian fascism.

Jojo Rabbit is a 2019 satirical black comedy-drama film written and directed by Taika Waititi, adapted from Christine Leunens' 2008 book Caging Skies. Roman Griffin Davis made his film debut as the title character, Johannes "Jojo" Betzler, a 10-year-old Hitler Youth member who finds out that his mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic. He must then question his beliefs while dealing with the intervention of his imaginary friend, a childlike, eccentric version of Adolf Hitler (played by Waititi) with a comedic stance on the politics of the war. The film also stars Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson, Stephen Merchant, and Alfie Allen.

Waititi wrote the screenplay in 2011, a year after his mother described the premise of Caging Skies. He rewrote the first draft, which as a rough adaptation of the dark-toned source material did not contain much comedy; it was also in the rewritten version that Adolf's character was included. Waititi recalled the pitching process as exhausting. In 2012, it landed on the Black List, where it remained in a development limbo until several years later when Fox Searchlight Pictures showed interest in it. A tight casting schedule started with principal photography in the Czech Republic in May 2018, finishing two months later. Post-production included adding the visual effects, editing done by Tom Eagles, as well as a score composed by Michael Giacchino.

Jojo Rabbit had its world premiere at the 44th Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2019, where it won the Grolsch People's Choice Award. It was later released theatrically in the United States on October 18. The film received positive reviews, though critics were divided on its comedic treatment of the subject of Nazism. It was chosen by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute as one of the 10 best films of the year. Among its numerous accolades, the film won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, while also being nominated for five other awards, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress Johansson, at the 92nd Academy Awards.

Jojo Rabbit will be screened in the Figge Art Museum's John Deere Auditorium on April 2, admission to the 6 p.m. showing is free, and the Figge bar will be open for food and beverages beginning at 5 p.m. (cards only). For more information on the night, call (563)326-7804 and visit FiggeArtMuseum.org.