Few young stars have had as strong a breakout debut as Thomasin McKenzie. A relatively unknown New Zealand actress a couple of years ago, she captured the attention of critics and audiences alike with her startling, haunting role in 2018's Leave No Trace, as a young girl hiding in the woods with her survivalist father. Her latest film sees her on the run from the government in a much different, more irreverent way: as Elsa, the rebellious Jewish girl who causes no amount of trouble for the title character of Taika Waititi's Nazi satire Jojo Rabbit, McKenzie has to put on a lot of different hats -- survivor, terrified teenager, assertive antagonist to a young Nazi boy (Roman Griffin Davis) lost to Nazi rhetoric.   The results are decidedly cheeky (the movie could best be described as Moon-reich Kingdom), but McKenzie serves a vital role in grounding the Nazi goofs in a harrowing sense of immediacy. Her Elsa is scared, but resolute, someone haunted by the loss of the childhood she should be living; and yet, through Jojo and the labyrinthine games they play together, gets to enjoy a glimmer of wonder in the darkest time in human history.   What struck me as I spoke with Thomasin during the Chicago International Film Festival is her imagination, her quiet thoughtfulness; she takes her time, offers long, contemplative pauses as she gathers her thoughts. There's something ethereal about her sense of wonder and imagination, someone with consideration beyond her years but who maintains the curiosity of childhood. Together, we spoke about coming into the process of the film, the cultural moment Jojo Rabbit arrives in, and how she might like to play an alien one day. (More of a Comment, Really… is a proud member of the Chicago Podcast Coop. Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring this episode!)