WHAT’S ON THE BOX?
JOJO RABBIT (12A)
★★★★★
TAIKA WAITITI directs, writes and stars in this Oscar-winning offbeat comedy drama adapted from the novel Caging Skies by Christine Leunen, which recounts one episode of suffering and redemption during the Second World War through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy.
The diminutive hero is Johannes Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis), who lives in Germany with his mother Rosie (Scarlett Johansson). The youngster is an enthusiastic member of the Hitler Youth and even has Adolf Hitler (Waititi) as an imaginary friend.
So, he’s shocked when he discovers a Jewish girl called Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie) hiding in a crawl space adjoining the bedroom of his late sister.
The boy intends to notify the authorities but Elsa points out that Jojo’s mother would be executed for harbouring a Jew, so he is compelled to hold his tongue.
■ Showing on Sky Cinema Premiere.
THE HUNT (15)
★★★ ☆☆
HUNTERS become prey in a controversial satirical thriller directed by Craig Zobel which takes aim at preconceptions on both sides of the political and class divide in present-day America.
Anchored by eye-catching performances from Betty Gilpin and two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank, this intentionally overblown showdown between workingclass “deplorables” and the wealthy “liberal elites” hunting them for sport doesn’t stint on the stomach-churning splatter.
Twelve strangers regain consciousness, in a forest clearing, supposedly in Arkansas.
When rifle shots ring out and a head explodes, the stricken strangers realise the wicked whispers online must be true – they are being hunted by the well-to-do.
Showing on Sky Cinema Premiere.