#and yes i am talking abt the same workplace where i am currently getting racial trauma

[chinchillinator]

ok hold on i responded in the tags like an hour ago when i rb this but im still thinking abt it so everyone gets to see me ramble more.

When Jojo Rabbit came out, my work friend and I sent out a quick email to other people on staff at our workplace (it’s a small workplace so we’re mostly friendly) to see if anyone wanted to join us in going to watch the film at our local independent theater (support small businesses, kids!). We have a Jewish person on staff who often reminds us that the normal workplace calendar revolves around Christian holidays and this person had to take paid personal days in order to celebrate her holidays. That is high key unfair, do not get me wrong. But when my work friend sent out the invite, the casual you-can-say-no-this-is-no-pressure-we-are-literally-just-wondering invitation, this person started going off to anyone within hearing range that Jojo Rabbit shouldn’t even EXIST as a film and should never be watched by anyone. Now, if you’ve seen Jojo Rabbit (I will assume you have for the purposes of this post) you know that it’s basically Taika Waititi just DUNKING on N/azis for the entire movie. It literally depicts the adults in Jojo’s life actively working against the N/azis to help Jojo and the Jewish girl his mother is hiding. (Seriously, guys, let’s fucking talk about the nuances of Sam Rockwell’s character omg off topic but I just can’t get over it ANYWAY). This person in my workplace HAS NEVER SEEN Jojo Rabbit. They didn’t know what the movie was actually about, they just didn’t want anyone else seeing it on principle.

I understand, in a way, where this colleague was coming from. As an Asian American, seeing the trailer for De Oost at a time when my and my family’s safety in this country is at risk definitely made me feel A Certain Way™️. FOR SURE I am uncomfortable seeing the gifs and clips! So I understand not wanting to watch a movie that depicts any portrayal of N/azism if you are Jewish and the topic makes you very uncomfortable. But to argue that the movie shouldn’t be made without knowing what it’s actually about is unfair and, to me, show a lack of ability to critically analyze real-life historic events from an educated perspective.

I think De Oost will be a good movie. I think it’s important to discuss colonization and some of the horrible things that happened during those times. I will not be watching, however. I’m just not in a place where I can healthily appreciate the movie. But I would never expect another creator to avoid this topic because I am uncomfortable with the subject matter. We, as creators, create our art to offer commentary on the world around us. That’s what it means to “write what you know.” And certain things MUST be commented on. Better to turn around and recognize the failings of ourselves, our societies, and our countries, rather than sweep it all under the rug and pretend it never existed.

So, you’re aware that movies about awful events of the history HAVE to be made and actors SHOULD take on the roles of war criminals right?

Like you do realise that playing the role of Raymond Westerling is NOT a bad choice, and De Oost is not a bad movie on principal, at least before we’ve watched it?

I admire Marwan wholeheartedly for taking on this role, because if no one dares to tell the story of horrible people how will we know about them? And knowing Jim Taihuttu from Wolf, I have high hopes of the movie being a good movie.

If the movie ended up being problematic to any degree, we will talk about it and rip it apart, but can we please not cancel things before at least knowing fully what they are?