Juno is a 2007 American coming of age comedy-drama independent film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. Ellen Page
stars as the title character, an independent-minded teenager
confronting an unplanned pregnancy and the subsequent events that put
pressures of adult life onto her. Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney and J. K. Simmons also star.
Filming spanned from early February to March 2007 in Vancouver, British Columbia. It premiered on September 8 at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival, receiving a standing ovation.
Juno won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay
and earned three other Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and
Best Actress for Page. The film's soundtrack, featuring several songs
performed by Kimya Dawson in various guises, was the first chart-topping soundtrack since Dreamgirls and 20th Century Fox's first number one soundtrack since Titanic. Juno earned back its initial budget of $6.5 million in twenty days, the first nineteen of which were when the film was in limited release. It went on to earn $231 million worldwide. Juno
received acclaim from critics, many of whom placed the film on their
top ten lists for the year. It has received criticism and praise from
members of both the pro-life and pro-choice communities regarding its treatment of abortion.
Sixteen-year-old Minnesota
high-schooler Juno MacGuff discovers she is pregnant by her friend and
longtime admirer, Paulie Bleeker. She initially considers an abortion.
Going to a local clinic run by a women's group, she encounters a
schoolmate outside who is holding a one-person protest for pro-life
vigil. Once inside, however, a variety of factors lead Juno to leave.
She decides against abortion, and she decides to give the baby up for
adoption. With the help of her friend Leah, Juno searches the ads in the
Pennysaver
and finds a couple she feels will provide a suitable home. She tells
her father, Mac, and stepmother, Bren, who offer their support. With
Mac, Juno meets the couple, Mark and Vanessa Loring, in their expensive
home and agrees to a closed adoption.
Juno visits Mark a few times, with whom she shares tastes in punk rock and horror films.
Mark, who has set aside his rock band youth (now confined to
memorabilia displayed in the one room of the house that Vanessa has
designated for Mark's personal belongings), works at home composing
commercial jingles. Juno and Leah happen to see Vanessa in a shopping
mall being completely at ease with a child, and Juno encourages Vanessa
to talk to her baby in the womb, where it kicks for her.
As the pregnancy progresses, Juno struggles with the emotions she
feels for the baby's father, Paulie, who is clearly in love with Juno.
Juno maintains an outwardly indifferent attitude toward Paulie, but when
she learns he has asked another girl to the upcoming prom, she angrily
confronts him. Paulie reminds Juno that it is at her request they remain
distant and tells her that she broke his heart.
Not long before her baby is due, Juno is again visiting Mark when
their interaction becomes emotional. Mark then tells her he will be
leaving Vanessa to figure his life out. Juno is horrified by this
revelation, with Mark asking Juno " How do you think of me? ", revealing
Mark is starting to develop feelings for Juno. Vanessa arrives home,
and Mark tells her he does not feel ready to be a father and there are
still things he wants to do first. Juno watches the Loring marriage fall
apart, then drives away and breaks down in tears by the side of the
road. Returning to the Lorings' home, she leaves a note and disappears
as they answer the door.
After a heartfelt discussion with her father, Juno accepts that she
loves Paulie. Juno then tells Paulie she loves him, and Paulie's actions
make it clear her feelings are very much reciprocated. Not long after,
Juno goes into labor and is rushed to the hospital, where she gives
birth to a baby boy. She had deliberately not told Paulie because of his
track meet. Seeing her missing from the stands, Paulie rushes to the
hospital, finds Juno has given birth to their son, and comforts Juno as
she cries.
Vanessa comes to the hospital where she joyfully claims the newborn
boy as a single adoptive mother. On the wall in the baby's new nursery,
Vanessa has framed Juno's note, which reads: " Vanessa: If you're still
in, I'm still in. — Juno. " The film ends in the summertime with Juno
and Paulie playing guitar and singing together, followed by a kiss.


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