JUNO
US, 2007, 91 minutes, Colour.
Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, J.K. Simmons, Allison Janney.
Directed by Jason Reitman.
To simply say that this is a film about teenage pregnancy (which it is) would not do the film or its themes justice. This is a film which is able to deal with teenage behaviour and mistakes and take a hopeful view, especially about pregnancy, birth and life.
The screenplay is very matter of fact about the situation, acknowledging its difficulties but not saying that this is the end of the world. Juno is 16, an intelligent, offbeat girl, who has a quick and blunt wit. She has really organised the sexual encounter with a sympathetic, quiet boy (Michael Cera) and accepts the consequences. After briefly considering an abortion, she and her friend Lia (Olivia Thirby) check out some advertisements placed by couples interested in adoption. She acts quite swiftly, moving through the awkwardness of telling her father (the always agreeably sardonic J.K. Simmons) and her stepmother (the always welcome and strong-minded Allison Janney). She then moves swiftly in contacting potential parents played by Jennifer Garner (desperate to have a child) and Jason Bateman (not so desperate).
The film moves through the four seasons, following Juno’s progress and pregnancy and schooling. In a way, nothing particularly startling happens. Rather, there are glimpses of all the main characters – whom we get to know very well, part of the skill of the witty screenplay which draws us into the situation and the characters’ lives.
This is not at all difficult to do with Juno. She is so well played by a confident Ellen Page that we enjoy her company, relish her comments, appreciate her decision to have the child and, because of her immaturity, offer it immediately for adoption. By sharing the progress of her pregnancy without the melodrama of angst or self-pity and trauma, we find a decent pro-life perspective that celebrates the developing child. Ellen Page received many award nominations including an Oscar nomination.
The film must have touched American audiences with a view on real situations. It quickly made over $100,000,000 at the box-office. That’s food for thought about American issues and morals.
1.The acclaim for the film, awards, popularity, topical?
2.The American town, typical, the high school, the track, homes, the hospital? An authentic atmosphere?
3.The importance of the songs throughout the film, the tone, the seasons, the lyrics and the comment on behaviour?
4.The structure of the film, the passing of the four seasons?
5.The opening, the introduction to Juno, drinking the orange juice, the superimposed animation, her going to the pharmacist, her walking, the pregnancy tests, the shop owner? Ringing Leah, wanting some reaction? The flashbacks, Paulie, the chair, her comments about her sexual behaviour?
6.Juno at sixteen, Ellen Page’s Oscar-nominated performance? Her home life, her mother going west, sending the cactus plants? Her father and his devotion, Brenda and her concern and care? Liberty Bell? The build-up to her telling them about the pregnancy, the discussions with Leah, their reactions, concern about expulsion and drugs? Their immediate response of help? The father’s comments on Bleeker?
7.The issue of abortion, discussions with Leah? The phone call to the clinic? Going, the Chinese girl with her placard outside, the talking about the foetus and the fingernails? The girl casually at reception, the condoms, talk about her own behaviour? The range of mothers in the clinic, the noises of their scratchings etc? Her decision, discussions with Leah about adoption, the advertisements in the paper?
8.Juno and her father visiting the couple, Vanessa and Mark, the lawyer present? Juno and her flip comments? Humour, worldly-wise, immature? Vanessa and her wanting a child? Mark and his reserve? Juno looking through the house, the perfume? The contract and its detail? The decision not to see the baby later? The couple covering the costs? The later contacts, the importance of the ultrasound and her visit to Mark? Meeting Vanessa at the mall, Vanessa touching the baby and feeling it kick? The discussions with Mark, music, the looking at the horror films of Hershel Lewis? Vanessa’s reaction? The room, the custard and cheesecake colours for the wall? Mark and his lack of enthusiasm? Mark and his saying that he was not ready for fatherhood? Separation from Vanessa, the divorce? Juno and her being crushed, her reaction? Mark moving out?
9.Juno and her father, his continued support, Brenda and her care, nails, food, going to the ultrasound – and her telling off the assistant with her comments about teenage pregnancies? At the hospital?
10.Leah, her friendship, support, discussions?
11.Bleeker, a nice boy, being talked into the sexual behaviour, his mother and her concern, his eating the Tic Tacs (and Juno filling his letterbox with the gift)? His running, serious talking, in the lab, at school, with Juno and discussions about the prom? Juno and her meanness towards him, his taking it? The visit, her being sorry? His care for her as she was? The running, his winning, Juno not there, his going to the hospital? At the end, his love for Juno, playing the guitar?
12.Juno and the year, becoming larger, experiencing the pregnancy, her verbal comments, her maturity, immaturity? Love of music and comments on CDs? The crush on Mark? Her visits, at school, people’s comments?
13.The reaction after the visit to Mark, taking time to think, talking to her father and his advice about those who really loved her for herself? Her understanding this for him? For Bleeker?
14.The experience of the birth, Brenda and her support, the joy, the baby, Bleeker not wanting to see it?
15.Vanessa, seeing the baby, Brenda giving her support?
16.The happy ending, what had Juno learnt? What had the audience learnt about teenagers, pregnancies, how to handle situations, abortion, adoption? A future for Juno?
