2020-01-23 The Hollywood Reporter

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 25 JANUARY 2020 AWARDS 1

I think it’s really important. Hate
speech and hate crimes are on the
rise. For me, it was important for
the film to have some purpose in
the world, to say something that
will hopefully have people reflect-
ing about things afterward. So
t hat ’s why it ’s so rew a rd i ng.

The film has some interesting
champions who are passionate
about it. One is Mel Brooks.
That was incredible. First he said
something [supportive] on a chat
show about the film. Then we
were at the AFI luncheon and he
came up to present an award and
he went off script and said, “You
know, I have to say this: Taika,
you didn’t ask my permission to
put Hitler in the movie!” And then
he went on to say that Taika had
really nailed it. Taika was just in
a trance. I don’t think he could
believe what was happening. To
have someone like that who paved
the path give him a compliment
— he leaned over to me and said,
“If nothing else happens, it was
so worth it.”

Was there anyone else whose

support surprised or delighted you?

When someone from the older

generation praised it, that was

very special. We screened the

film a lot with the Jewish com-

munity. And when you get

feedback from leaders and schol-

ars in the community and they

comment on the value of retell-

ing the story of the Holocaust in

different ways, that’s really what

matters, you know? That helped

us see the power and the impor-

tance of the film. And when

you hear stories about parents

taking their kids to Jojo Rabbit,

or kids taking their parents,

and then discussing together

what happened in World War

II and about learning to think

for yourself as a child — that’s

really exciting. We don’t get to be

party to those conversations, but

knowing that they are happening

is really special.

Have you spoken with the boys at

the heart of the film, Roman Griffin

Davis (Jojo) and Archie Yates

(Yorki), since the nominations

were announced?

Roman’s back at school in

London. He’s really excited. I

mean, this whole thing has been

crazy for him and Archie. Archie

is up in Montreal, already work-

ing on his next film. I think for

them, what’s been important is

they’ve both showed the film to

their school friends. Roman said

that they left the screening and

“I think it’s important for kids to see

how little bits of hate can end up going

really far.” ROMAN GRIFFIN DAVIS

one of his friends came up to him

and said, “That is such a great

movie. It was about a kid learn-

ing to think for himself.” I think

he was really taken by that, that

his friends could get that from

the movie. Because we spent a

lot of time talking through the

movie with them, and the mean-

ing of it. And then to see his

friends get there on their own,

no prompting — I know he was

really proud to be part of it. He’s

a smart kid at 12.

Are both of them going to attend

the Oscars?

I hope so. I hope the principal

lets them out of school. We’ve

been asking for a lot of time off

from school.

If there’s ever a reason to let him

out, I think this is it.

We keep telling them about

the educational value of all

these trips.

Interview edited for length

and clarity.