New Zealand movie director Taika Waititi says he likes a challenge and his satire of Adolf Hitler and Nazi culture may be his riskiest and most successful yet.

Drawing on his own Jewish heritage and experiences growing up surrounded by prejudice, writer-director-actor Taika Waititi was excited to make a movie against hate through a satire of the Nazi culture at the height of WWII, until he saw himself dressed as Adolf Hitler for the first time. He said he felt “shame and embarrassment.”

Taika Waititi’s Nazi Germany-set satire “Jojo Rabbit” won the People’s Choice award Sunday at the Toronto International Film Festival, a prize that has historically been one of the most ironclad predicators of Academy Awards chances.

Before he steps into the directorial chair for 'Thor'.The satirical film follows a 10-year-old boy, Jojo "Rabbit" Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis), who creates an imaginary friend named Adolf Hitler (Waititi).