Juno

Juno: comparison between homes and lives
Juno is a brilliant movie for many reasons. The reason I think it is so brilliant is because of the use of setting and non-diegetic music to set up the difference in the lives of Juno and Mark and Vanessa. The setting and non-diegetic music help to express the differences between not only the different lives of these two groups, but also to express the different relationships they make and the difference in their emotional state.

Overall there is a feeling of chaos in Juno's life, and pregnancy seems to only add to it. From the opening shot onward, we see her life spread out and messy. Her room is full of random objects and her phone is in the shape of a hamburger. From the beginning we get the sense that she is not ready to be a mother and that a baby would add too much to her already messy life.

Juno's life is starkly contrasted with Mark and Vanessa's perfect house, perfect neighborhood, and seemingly perfect life. In their home, everything has its place, and everything is orderly always. Vanessa is conscious of how she comes off to other people, especially to Juno, as she desperately wants children. Mark also shows off his good face, but he is not as good as showing his enthusiasm for a new child, or lack thereof. Mark appears neat and orderly, as does everything else in Vanessa's perfect house. Mark is in his place and as such, he puts on the facade that Vanessa expects of him.  


The opening song is folksy and is reflected throughout the rest of the movie whenever Juno is with her family or Paulie Bleeker. The country or folksy sounding guitar reflects her relationships with these people. Though her life may be chaotic and crazy, Juno has really good relationships with her family and friends. Her messy house looks really comfortable and cozy, directly reflecting the relationship with her family. Her dad and stepmom accept the fact that she is pregnant pretty quickly and are almost immediately figuring out how to help her.

 
The music is drastically different whenever Juno and Mark are together. The usually  country sounding music switches to rock as we see Juno and Mark moving closer together. The change in sound reflect the odd relationship the two of them have. While Juno is flirting with adulthood, Mark is flirting with childhood, though neither of them can go into the others realm. Juno is forced into dealing with adult things, but Mark does not want to let go of his childhood and his dreams of being a rock star.

Paulie Bleeker's room reflects the idea that he and Juno really are still just children. They are dealing with things beyond their years but his room is a reminder that they are hardly flirting with adulthood. It looks like Paulie's room hasn't changed since he was very young, and both he and Juno look at ease in it. With the exception of Juno's pregnancy belly, they very much look like they belong in that room.

Mark and Vanessa's relationship with each other contrasts drastically with the facade they put up. Where their house and neighborhood are orderly and clean, their relationship is anything but. The only thing that they share with their house, is the feeling of sterility. Their house is so white and clean it practically looks like a hospital in places. Mark's room is the only place in the house that looks lived in. Vanessa is so uptight about keeping up a good exterior that the interior of her's and Mark's marriage is just as sterile as their house. It is clean, organized, and unlived in. 

Vanessa becomes more human with time, and by the time her loveless relationship with Mark ends and her long awaited baby arrive, her house looks lived in. Thanks to Juno, she has some chaos in her life and for the first time, I think there is love in that house. 

On Juno's side, her life looks more organized and orderly since encountering Vanessa and giving up her baby. Her life seems to take more direction and everything looks a little brighter and a little neater. She is in a good relationship with Paulie Bleeker and she has maintained a strong relationship with her father. 

Works Cited

Juno. Dir. Jason Reitman. Prod. Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Russell Smith, and Mason Novick. By Diablo Cody. Perf. Ellen Page and Michael Cera. Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2007.

It Started With A Chair. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. <threemuttsandababy.blogspot.com>

Juno In Her Room. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. <swoonsandsnarls.wordpress.com>.

Juno's Sitting Room. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. <thebestpictureproject.wordpress.com>

Paulie and Juno. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. <philipgarland.wordpress.com>.

Mark And Vanessa. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. <pinkpeonies73.blogspot.com>.

Vanessa and Baby. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. <latymermedia2012filmg3b.blogspot.com>