Some actors study subjects for years – decades, even – in order to forge the perfect portrayal of their character. Some sacrifice personal relationships in the relentless pursuit of their craft. For them, it becomes an obsession; an all-consuming addiction; the ultimate performance justifying whatever means it took to get them there. And then there’s Taika Waititi, who barely scratched himself before playing Hitler on the big screen.
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Waititi, your favourite Kiwi Daddy-type, plays Hitler – or a child’s imaginary friend version of Hitler – in the upcoming film Jojo Rabbit, which Taika both directed and wrote the adapted script for as well.
The film follows a 10-year-old German boy during World War II who is an unashamed follower of Hitler Youth, but who has to deal with some weird realities after he finds a Jewish girl that his mother has been hiding in their attic. It’s a comedy film, in case you were wondering.
Speaking to Deadline, Waititi detailed what level of research and preparation he put into playing a character of such historical significance: None. Absolutely none.
Waititi explained that in order to play a hyper-stylised version of Hitler that wasn’t really based in any reality, he basically did no background reading whatsoever and just showed up to the set with a “shitty little moustache” and a “mediocre German accent.”
I didn’t have to do any research, and I didn’t do any research. I didn’t base him on anything I’d seen about Hitler before. I just made him a version of myself that happened to have a bad haircut and a sh*tty little moustache. And a mediocre German accent.
It would just be too weird to play the actual Hitler, and I don’t think people would enjoy the character as much. Because he was such a fucking cunt, and everyone knows that as well. I think people have got to relate to really enjoy the ride.
Further clarifying, Taika asserted the version of Hitler in the film isn’t really Hitler, just an overgrown child in a Nazi outfit.
He’s not really Hitler. He’s like a 10 year-old kid’s version of Hitler. So he doesn’t have to share anything with actual Hitler, because 10 year-olds never meet Hitler. He’s basically a 10 year-old who happens to have a tiny little moustache.
And just in case that wasn’t clear by itself, Waititi took to Twitter earlier today to provide some clarification.
To be clear, Hitler is the c*nt.#JojoRabbit https://t.co/cqnN23C8Uy
— Taika Waititi (@TaikaWaititi) May 15, 2019
Glad we got that sorted.
Jojo Rabbit is due to hit cinemas this coming October.