Movie: Juno (2007)Juno Blog Entry #2
Hillary’s words and reflections…
Movie Quote: “Vanessa, if you’re still in, I’m in – Juno.”
These words are shown at the end of the movie, doodled on a Jiffy Lube receipt by Juno and placed on the adoptive mother's doorstep. Juno pens this sentence after realizing that Vanessa and her husband, Mark, might not stay together. The “perfect” couple chosen by Juno in the Penny Saver, is no longer perfect-appearing. Juno is faced with what she will do in the midst of her new reality. She chooses to join with Vanessa. Meaning, Juno’s words and actions – whether or not they represent the “right” decision – show a willingness to move toward Vanessa even though the marital picture is crumbling. So motherhood arrives in the midst of changing plans, a shifty marriage, and chaos. The unplanned pregnancy begins with a single, teenage mom and ends with a single, adult mom.
So, it seems that Juno is a movie about living in the midst of the unplanned, unfolding realities of life. In the end motherhood impacts every person in the movie. And, if the movie could continue the same mysterious mixture of joy and sorrow would keep inter-weaving itself through out Juno and Vanessa's life.
Martha’s words and reflections…
Hope lost, hope found, love lost, love found, and love kept. These are the string of thoughts I have at that end of the movie. In my mind, I want to simplify the process by saying, “Yes problem solved.” Because a teen mother (Juno) is no longer a mother, she is free to go back to her life. And Vanessa, although she is a single-adoptive mother, still gets what she wants. The part of me that likes life to be black and white says, “Yes this is how it should be.” Mistake made. There is nothing lost and nothing gained.
But wait a minute, when one sits with the end of the movie, one is invited to look closer at all the choices given and made. In these choices love and hope are found. However, love and hope are not found because everyone followed the rules or was able to “fix the problem."
Juno chooses to change the course of history by loving herself as she sticks to what she wants. Juno joins with Vanessa who longs and desires to care for a baby by continuing with the adoptive plan. Juno does not make Vanessa suffer the consequences of her husband's bad choices.
Vanessa is focused, whether rightly or wrongly, on becoming a mother. It is Juno who has the ability to invite her into the space of motherhood and she does.
The point is love wins. But, love wins in a way that veers from the original plan. Plans change and love is still found in the midst of the complex moments of human existence.
**Enjoy the movie Juno! The ending is full of rich discussion for women (& families) of all ages and stages of life: girl, teenager, mother, and daughter.**
