2012
Ten-year-old Johannes Betzler, a zealous Hitler Youth member with an imaginary Adolf Hitler for a friend, discovers Jewish girl Elsa Korr hiding in his home, secretly harbored by his mother. Initially prejudiced, Jojo develops a complex bond with Elsa, questioning his beliefs even as the Gestapo raids his house and he later finds his mother hanged for anti-Nazi activities. As the war intensifies and his town becomes a battleground, Jojo witnesses the chaos of the Third Reich's final days, reuniting with his friend Yorki, now a child soldier. After Allied forces liberate the town, Jojo, having shed his imaginary Hitler, tells Elsa the war is over, and they step outside to face an uncertain but free future together.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Young Jojo Betzler begins as an enthusiastic Hitler Youth member, only to discover a Jewish girl hidden in his home, which challenges his beliefs.
Open full beat sheetJohannes Betzler is listed as Protagonist. A 10-year-old boy, member of the Hitler Youth, scarred face and injured arm. In the parsed data, Johannes Betzler is connected to 85 scenes, 281 dialogue lines, 282 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
85 scenes / 281 dialogue linesElsa Korr is listed as Hidden Guest. A 15-year-old Jewish girl hiding in Jojo's house. In the parsed data, Elsa Korr is connected to 22 scenes, 134 dialogue lines, 135 text mentions, first appearing around scene 20.
22 scenes / 134 dialogue linesFrau Betzler is listed as Mother. Jojo's kind and beautiful mother. In the parsed data, Frau Betzler is connected to 16 scenes, 54 dialogue lines, 54 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
16 scenes / 54 dialogue linesAdolf Hitler is listed as Fantasy Friend. Jojo's goofy, imaginary version of Adolf Hitler. In the parsed data, Adolf Hitler is connected to 15 scenes, 67 dialogue lines, 68 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
15 scenes / 67 dialogue linesCaptain Klenzendorf is listed as Hitler Youth Instructor. Weathered, cynical, and eccentric officer. In the parsed data, Captain Klenzendorf is connected to 13 scenes, 30 dialogue lines, 30 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
13 scenes / 30 dialogue linesYorki is listed as Best Friend. Jojo's geeky, fat, and clumsy best friend. In the parsed data, Yorki is connected to 12 scenes, 22 dialogue lines, 27 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
12 scenes / 22 dialogue linesSub-Officer Finkel is listed as Assistant. Awkwardly enthusiastic assistant to Captain Klenzendorf. In the parsed data, Sub-Officer Finkel is connected to 10 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
10 scenes / 4 dialogue linesCaptain Deertz is listed as Gestapo Officer. Officious Gestapo captain. In the parsed data, Captain Deertz is connected to 5 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 39.
5 scenes / 12 dialogue linesFraulein Rahm is listed as Teacher. Hitler Youth instructor. In the parsed data, Fraulein Rahm is connected to 4 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
4 scenes / 6 dialogue lineschar_10 is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, char_10 is connected to 1 scene, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 18.
1 scenes / 5 dialogue linesJojo prepares for his first day in the Jungvolk, dressing in his uniform and painting a Hitler moustache on his face.
Johannes BetzlerJojo walks through the street and meets his friend Yorki.
Johannes Betzler, YorkiCaptain Klenzendorf and Finkel address the children at the training camp.
Johannes Betzler, Yorki, Captain Klenzendorf, Sub-Officer FinkelFraulein Rahm teaches the children about the 'Jew' and they burn books.
Johannes Betzler, Yorki, Sub-Officer Finkel, Fraulein RahmJojo and Yorki discuss the war and their hopes for the future.
Johannes Betzler, YorkiJojo is pressured to kill a rabbit during training.
Johannes Betzler, Yorki, Captain KlenzendorfJojo talks to his imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler.
Johannes Betzler, Adolf HitlerJojo attempts to prove himself by throwing a grenade and gets injured.
Johannes Betzler, Adolf Hitler, Yorki, Captain Klenzendorf, Sub-Officer FinkelJojo is in the hospital recovering from his injuries.
Johannes Betzler, Adolf Hitler, Frau Betzler, Captain Klenzendorf, Sub-Officer FinkelJojo wakes up in his bedroom and hears a noise.
Johannes BetzlerJojo and his mother discuss his recovery and his future.
Johannes Betzler, Frau BetzlerJojo and his mother prepare to leave the house.
Johannes Betzler, Frau BetzlerJojo and his mother walk through town.
Johannes Betzler, Frau BetzlerJojo visits the Hitler Youth office and meets Captain Klenzendorf.
Johannes Betzler, Captain Klenzendorf, Sub-Officer FinkelJojo distributes propaganda posters.
Johannes BetzlerJojo sees bodies hanging from a gallows.
Johannes BetzlerJojo delivers a conscription notice to Herr Grusch.
Johannes BetzlerJojo visits the grocery store to deliver a conscription notice to Herr Grusch.
Johannes Betzler, char_10Jojo returns home and calls for his mother.
Johannes BetzlerJojo discovers Elsa hiding in the wall of his sister's room.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrJojo consults his imaginary friend Adolf about the girl in the wall.
Johannes Betzler, Adolf HitlerJojo attempts to confront Elsa while wearing household objects as armor.
Johannes BetzlerJojo tries to negotiate with Elsa but is frightened away.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrAdolf advises Jojo on how to use reverse psychology on Elsa.
Johannes Betzler, Adolf HitlerJojo waits in the living room, anxious.
Johannes BetzlerJojo stands in the kitchen.
Johannes BetzlerJojo waits for his mother.
Johannes BetzlerJojo waits for his mother in her room.
Johannes BetzlerJojo confronts his mother about the noises.
Johannes Betzler, Frau BetzlerFrau Betzler tucks Jojo into bed.
Johannes Betzler, Frau BetzlerJojo follows his mother and sees her feeding Elsa.
Johannes Betzler, Frau Betzler, Elsa KorrJojo undergoes physical therapy.
Johannes Betzler, Adolf HitlerJojo visits Captain Klenzendorf to ask about Jews.
Johannes Betzler, Captain Klenzendorf, Sub-Officer FinkelJojo negotiates with Elsa to learn about Jews.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrJojo and Adolf discuss the book project.
Johannes Betzler, Adolf HitlerJojo and his mother have dinner.
Johannes Betzler, Frau BetzlerJojo and his mother discuss the family's future and Jojo's desire to repurpose Inga's room.
Johannes Betzler, Frau BetzlerJojo interrogates Elsa about Jewish life and her family while bombs fall nearby.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrJojo attempts to find information on Nathan Raame at the Gestapo office.
Johannes Betzler, Captain DeertzJojo searches for Nathan's file in the disorganized room.
Johannes BetzlerJojo steals a Rilke book and imagines Hitler's advice.
Johannes Betzler, Adolf HitlerJojo encounters a marching group of Jungvolk.
Johannes Betzler, Fraulein RahmJojo writes a fake letter from Nathan.
Johannes Betzler, Adolf HitlerJojo reads a fake letter to Elsa, causing her distress.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrJojo reads a second fake letter to Elsa, reconciling with her.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrJojo and Elsa discuss famous figures.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrFrau Betzler uses a complex system to get extra rations.
Johannes Betzler, Frau BetzlerJojo and his mother discuss love and war.
Johannes Betzler, Frau BetzlerJojo and his mother discover a mark on their door.
Johannes Betzler, Frau BetzlerJojo and his mother scrub the paint off the door.
Johannes Betzler, Frau BetzlerElsa tells Jojo stories about Jewish history.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrHitler advises Jojo on how to handle Elsa.
Johannes Betzler, Adolf HitlerJojo shares his 'research' on Jews with Captain Klenzendorf.
Johannes Betzler, Captain Klenzendorf, Sub-Officer FinkelJojo shows his book to Klenzendorf and Finkel, who are amused by his drawings. Klenzendorf discusses his uniform designs and gives Jojo a new task.
Johannes Betzler, Captain Klenzendorf, Sub-Officer FinkelJojo attempts to collect metal for the war effort from an old woman.
Johannes BetzlerJojo meets his friend Yorki, who is now a soldier in a cardboard uniform.
Johannes Betzler, YorkiJojo gives Elsa pencils and they discuss his appearance and the possibility of a kiss.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrJojo listens to Elsa bathing.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrJojo watches Elsa get ready.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrJojo and Elsa share a meal of green potatoes before the Gestapo arrives.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrGestapo officers, led by Captain Deertz, arrive to search the house.
Johannes Betzler, Captain Klenzendorf, Sub-Officer Finkel, Captain DeertzElsa poses as Jojo's sister, Inga, to fool the Gestapo.
Johannes Betzler, Captain Klenzendorf, Elsa Korr, Captain DeertzThe Gestapo officers leave, and Klenzendorf tells Jojo his services are no longer needed.
Johannes Betzler, Captain Klenzendorf, Captain DeertzElsa realizes the danger of her fake identity.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrAdolf Hitler criticizes Jojo for his confusion and lack of priorities.
Johannes Betzler, Adolf HitlerJojo gets meager rations.
Johannes BetzlerJojo discovers his mother has been executed by the Nazis.
Johannes Betzler, Frau BetzlerAdolf Hitler comforts Jojo.
Johannes Betzler, Adolf HitlerJojo confronts Elsa with a knife, then breaks down.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrElsa explains the Resistance to Jojo.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrJojo reads a fake review of Elsa's drawings to her.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrJojo stores Elsa's drawings.
Johannes BetzlerJojo encounters Yorki during the chaos of the impending invasion.
Johannes Betzler, YorkiJojo and Yorki arrive at the square amidst the fighting.
Johannes Betzler, YorkiJojo and Yorki discuss the war and Jojo's hidden Jewish girl while chaos unfolds around them.
Johannes Betzler, Yorki, Captain Klenzendorf, Sub-Officer FinkelJojo witnesses the Allied parade and learns the war is over from a woman and his imaginary friend.
Johannes Betzler, Adolf HitlerJojo navigates the post-war town and collects an army coat from a morgue.
Johannes BetzlerJojo tells Elsa the war is over but lies about who won.
Johannes Betzler, Elsa KorrA Russian teacher instructs children on how to be better Germans while Jojo and Hitler watch.
Johannes Betzler, Adolf HitlerJojo witnesses the execution of Nazis, including Captain Klenzendorf.
Johannes Betzler, Captain Klenzendorf, Fraulein Rahm, Captain DeertzI managed to find another letter for you at the post office. It's from Nathan. Dear Elsa, I hope you aren't too sad about the result of the war. Oh well. But it's not the end of the world. There are still small areas on Earth where it's ok not to be a Nazi so please stay alive. Thank God you have your good friend Johannes to look after you. He really is a fabulous person, so brave. Soooo very brave. It is important that you stay alive and healthy until I find you. So eat food, including sandwiches, if there are any. I love you, Nathan.
Be careful Jojo, and remember this good advice from me. Once you see what's in her mind and where she's trying to get you to go - in your own head, you must go the other way. Don't let her put you in a brain prison! You must be strong, you must always be alert and ready for anything. She's dangerous and cunning like an unpredictable baby opossum. Before you know it, you've got that thing clinging to your face, and that, dear Jojo, is one thing that does cannot happen to a German! Do not let her boss your German brain around!
Dear Elsa, this is hard for me to say but I don't want to marry you anymore. I found another woman and we laugh and have good talks. I'm sure there's better people for you anyway. It's like my favourite poet Rilke says: "We need, in love, to practice only this: letting each other go." So goodbye and sorry about dumping you. From Nathan your ex-fiance. PS. I am not really in the resistance I was lying. I am unemployed.
Ah, yes, but I have developed a more efficient system. I now use 3 ration cards, taking enough for 2 to eat, but then we take twice as long to eat it, you see? 3 for 2, which makes 6. But here's where it gets interesting; you take the original number times it by 3, carry the 7, subtract 2, then add 2 again (because secretly you need the 2), then divide the whole thing by the potatoes. Simple, no?
What else do we know about the German Nazis? Hmm? They are also HEARTLESS. Now, you beautiful children are not like these Germans, you will learn to be better Germans, ok? More like the Russians. Because Germans are bad people, they do very bad things. They have very bad taste in art and music, they have bad hearts. Now, you need to learn how to be better Germans. Who wants to be better Germans?
Ok here's the situation. If I tell on you, you'll be in big trouble and I don't think you want that. But then you'll tell on me and my mother, which I don't want. And if you tell my mother I know, then she'll kick you out which you don't want. And if I tell my mother I know, then you'll cut off my head, which I don't want.
Of course. Go on then, go and tell them. But you know what happens if you do? I'll say you helped me, and your mother too. Then we'll all be kaput. And if you tell your mother you know about me... just one word... I'll do the world a great big favour and CUT YOUR NAZI HEAD OFF. Got it?
Ok, so in reality if you see a Jew you tell us and then we tell the Gestapo and they tell the SS and then they go and kill the Jew. And anyone who helped the Jew. And, because these are very paranoid times, probably some other people just in case. It's very convoluted.
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