My Favorite War

I got strong Jojo Rabbit vibes from this animated, autobiagraphical documentary. It shows a childs-eye-view of growing up in a totalitarian state with inventive fantastical elements, but also the grim realities of growing up in such a way. When it is drawn the past can look particularly grim.

The story of a young girl growing up and gradually coming to realise the propagandas she is swallowing is a powerful narrative. Made more powerful by occasional live-action sequences in which the director returns to her homeland. This gives the film an even stronger context.

The film even touches upon the dangers of local pride and nostalgia by being set in the so called 'Courland Cauldron' an almost forgotten chapter at the end of the second world war. Technically one of the last places where the Germans surrendered. The differences between the 'Patriotic' (i.e. Soviet) version of history that is taught in schools and the gradual realisation of the horrors of war as Ilze Burkovska-Jacobsen grows up is incredibly powerful.

I saw this at the Virtual Glasgow Film Festival 2021 and I really hope it eventually gets proper UK distribution. This is the kind of mature, powerful animation that rarely gets made and we rarely get to see.