Miss O Loughlin: Notes on Juno for comparative study. 1

Juno learning that she is pregnant: • Start of the movie with Juno looking at a chair – symbolic of her relationship with

Bleeker. She’s wearing a red zip-up hoodie, t-shirt and jeans. She is standing in an unladylike manner and she is drinking sunny delight straight from the carton. Note here how different she is from Daisy in our first meeting.

• Juno appears to not care what people think of her. She is an independent woman. This is evident when she goes to the drugstore – pregnancy test in the toilet – no embarrassment. She is not fake/false. Note here that she is undertaking these challenges alone – no partner? Also note how the people in the shop address pregnancy: “Your eggo is preggo”. Rollo: Yeah. Maybe your little boyfriend's got mutant sperms. Knocked ya up twice. Rollo: That ain't no Etch-A-Sketch. This is one doodle that can't be un-did, Homeskillet.

Juno’s attitude towards abortion: • Relaxed attitude to pregnancy and abortion “Are you going to go to haven brook or

women now? Cause you know you need a note from your parents for haven brook.” common aspect of their generation. Leah’s reaction to her pregnancy is key here: Juno MacGuff: No, this is not a food baby all right? I've taken like three pregnancy tests, and I'm forshizz up the spout.

Leah: How did you even generate enough pee for three pregnancy tests? That's amazing...

Juno MacGuff: I don't know, I drank like, ten tons of Sunny D... Anyway dude, I'm telling you I'm pregnant and you're acting shockingly cavalier.

Juno and Bleaker:

• We realise that her relationship emerged from a note in Spanish class. It is clear that there is an open attitude to sex as she speaks about it with her friend Leah.

• We then see how Juno takes control of her life and decides what she wants to do with her body she is a dominant character, complete opposite to Daisy and Nora. “So guess what? I’m pregnant.” She chooses how to deal with it.. Juno MacGuff: Well, I should just... I was thinking I'd just nip it in the bud before it gets worse. Because they were talking about in health class how pregnancy... It can often lead to an infant.

Social Appearance:

• Scene where the couple fight in the lab for female dominance. Look here at how they fight in public – no need to hide the fights. Not obsessed with image unlike Daisy and Nora. Social appearances in unimportant in the 21st century. Girl Lab Partner: No, Josh. Because I don't take orders. Not from you and not from any man.

Juno & Bleeker: • Juno clearly cares for Bleeker as she remembers the date they had sex – relationship

“2 weeks and 4 days ago but that's an estimation”.

2 Miss O Loughlin: Notes on Juno for comparative study.

Juno’s attempt at abortion:

• Look at the scene for the abortion. Examine how the secretary was not shocked by her job and Su-chin “Your baby has fingernails.” Juno was more affected by this fact than the abortion – look at her strength when she decides to keep it.

Family dynamics: • Family relationship – not a typical family dynamic. Her mom left her – she has a new

family “the replacement kids”, raised by her father, has a stepmom and a step sister family isn’t the norm. “This cactus-gram stings even worse than your abandonment."

• Yet despite the problems, we see a glimpse of the family sitting for dinner together – contrast to Daisy and Nora. (imagery)

• Since of mother/father marriage for child isn’t needed “I could give it to a couple of nice lesbos.”

• Look at the scene where she tells her parents that she is pregnant. They sit down and listen to their child. “What have you done Juno?” – support. Take note of their reaction to the pregnancy. Juno MacGuff: But, uh ah, I'm going to give it up for adoption and I already found the perfect couple, they're going to pay for the medical expenses and everything. And and what ah 30 or odd weeks we can just pretend that this never happened.

Mac MacGuff: I didn't think he had it in him. (when he learnt who the father was).

Mac MacGuff: I'm not ready to be a pop-pop.

Bren: You're not going to be a pop-pop. Somebody else is going to find a precious blessing from Jesus in this garbage dump of a situation.

• Take note during this scene how both parents offer support straight away rather than lecture her. “You’re a little Viking” – Bren offers to go to the doctors with her and takes charge of getting her healthy. Father offers to go to visit the adoptive parents “I’m coming with you to meet these adoption couple.” They’re being very positive. I even noted how the father blamed himself.

Vanessa & Mark: • Image of the old car driving past the ‘perfect’ houses – she doesn’t belong in this

perfect lifestyle – wants better for her child. • We meet Vanessa and Mark. Although she has never been pregnant, she clearly wants

it and knows everything about pregnancy. I noted how Juno refers to it as “the thing” whilst Vanessa class it “the baby” – Vanessa is clearly in awe of pregnancy and jealous of Juno’s ability to have a child “so you are on your second trimester?”. Here I also noted how Vanessa offered Juno and open adoption – she didn’t want to eliminate Juno altogether though Juno declines.

• Mark doesn’t strike us as eager “Everyman wants to be a father.” Here we can see that he generalising.

Miss O Loughlin: Notes on Juno for comparative study. 3

Ultrasound scene: • Ultrasound technician judges Juno and says “thank goodness for that” when she learns

that she is having the baby adopted. • Take note of how Bren defends her.

Bren: What is your job title exactly? Ultrasound Technician: I'm an ultrasound technician, ma'am. Bren: Well, I'm a nail technician and I think we both ought to just stick to what we know.

Juno & Mark:

• Juno brings Mark the baby photo – no sense of enjoyment from him. We also can note how Vanessa is the one out working hard while Mark composes music (opposite to Helmer and Tom). Take note of the awkward moment where Juno and Mark watch a horror movie. Vanessa is clearly worried about her husband – in her heart does she know he isn’t ready?

Juno coping with her feelings:

• Juno is rude to Bren as she doesn’t want to hear the truth about her inappropriateness with Marc.

• Juno goes to Bleeker for comfort “I always think you’re cute. I think you’re beautiful” – real romance as opposed to Helmer and Tom.

• Look at how Bleeker tries to ask Juno out “We could always get back together too. It’s an option.”

Vanessa & Mark Nursery scene:

• Note image of Mark and Vanessa standing side by side but worlds apart. Vanessa is clearly painting (messy outfit) and Mark is no help. Vanessa is over thinking the room to reflect her excitement.

• Here look at Mark is he afraid to get excited about the child incase Juno changes her mind or is he simply uninterested about the child.

Juno & Bleeker:

• Bleeker asked Katherine to the prom. Juno MacGuff: Yea, you just take Soupy-Sales to prom I can think of so many cooler things to do that night. Like, you know what Bleek? I might pumice my feet, uh, I might go to Bren's Unitarian Church, maybe get hit by a truck full of hot garbage juice, you know? Cause all those things, would be exponentially cooler than going to prom with you. Paulie Bleeker: You're being really immature... You have no reason to be mad at me, I mean, you know, you broke MY heart. I should be royally ticked off at you. I should be really cheesed off, I shouldn't want to talk to you anymore.

Juno & Mark:

• Look at how Juno and Mark understand one another. Juno puts on lipstick before going to visit Mark. Affair? Look at the difference between Daisy and Juno here when she refuses to have an affair with Mark – image of her dancing with Mark = image of Daisy dancing with Gatsby – playing with fire.

4 Miss O Loughlin: Notes on Juno for comparative study.

• Identify the moment when her plans fall apart “I’m leaving Vanessa.” • Juno’s hurt about her own family “I want this to be perfect. Not shitty and broken like

everybody else’s family.” • He wanted Juno? “How do you think of me?” • Look at how he tries to cover up at first – like Tom?

Vanessa & Mark:

• Mark leaves Vanessa as “Vanessa and me aren’t in love anymore.” Here we can see how divorce is ok in the 21st century.

• Look at the maturity in their separation – not a screaming match but more of a realisation “Thanks for making the call I guess.”

• She is a strong woman – not waiting for him to be ready for the child. Vanessa Loring: What are you saying? Mark Loring: That it feels a little like bad timing. Vanessa Loring: What would be a good time for you, Mark? Mark Loring: There's just some things that I still want to do. Vanessa Loring: Like what? Be a rock star? Mark Loring: Don't mock me. Vanessa Loring: I'm just saying that this is - this is something that's never gonna happen. You know -Your shirt is stupid. Grow up. If I have to wait for you to become Kurt Cobain, I'm never gonna be a mother. Mark Loring: I never said I'd be a good father.

Juno’s choice:

• The road is symbolic of the choice she now has to make. Move on with her life and away from Vanessa or to continue?

Juno seeks advice from Dad:

• Juno’s relationship with her father is excellent – not present in Gatsby or A Doll’s House. Juno MacGuff: I never realize how much I like being home unless I've been somewhere really different for a while. Juno MacGuff: I'm just like losing my faith with humanity. Juno MacGuff: That's not what it's about. I just need to know that it's possible that two people can stay happy together forever. Mac MacGuff: Well, it's not easy, that's for sure. Now, I may not have the best track record in the world, but I have been with your stepmother for 10 years now and I'm proud to say that we're very happy. Mac MacGuff: Look, in my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person is still going to think the sun shines out your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with. Juno MacGuff: Yeah. And I think I've found that person. Mac MacGuff: Yeah sure you have - your old D-A-D! You know I'll always be there to love you and support you no matter what kind of pickle you're in... Obviously.

Miss O Loughlin: Notes on Juno for comparative study. 5

Juno & Bleeker: • They reconcile and make up for their mistakes. Take note how they accept one

another’s flaws – maturity? Juno MacGuff: I think I'm in love with you. Paulie Bleeker: You mean as friends? Juno MacGuff: No... I mean for real. 'Cause you're, like, the coolest person I've ever met, and you don't even have to try, you know...

Juno supported in labour:

• Father and Bren are there for her the minute she goes into labour and offer support in different ways. Father rubs Juno’s hair and supports her “Someday you’ll be back here.” Bren “Can we get my kid the damn spinal tap already?”

• Also note her maturity in not calling Bleeker as he had an important race. I also felt it was important to note Juno’s maturity in her dealing with the adoption “It didn’t feel like ours. I think he was always hers”. She choose to gave Vanessa the baby showing the change in family dynamics – “If you’re still in. I’m still in.”

Ending:

• Happy ending for Vanessa – the mother she deserved to be. Vanessa Loring: How do I look? Bren: Like a new mom. Scared shitless.

• Bleeker and Juno form a relationship at the end. Juno MacGuff: As boyfriends go, Paulie Bleeker is totally boss. He is the cheese to my macaroni. And I know people are supposed to fall in love before they reproduce, but - I guess normalcy isn't really our style.

• Clever use of the chair again – started with a chair where the baby was concieved and ended with a rocking chair. Note on the wall – important.

6 Miss O Loughlin: Notes on Juno for comparative study.