[portlowski]

I know there has been much discussion about the movie "Juno" on these forums. This article appeared in the Chicago Tribune today.

The trouble with 'Juno' -- chicagotribune.com

[SuddenlySusan]

Thanks for the link, portlowski...

I said it before, and I'll say it again... Let me know when the sequel comes out. You know, the one that tells the rest of the story...

Susan

[Oceans]

ROFL Susan - Good one!

[browneyes0707]

I saw the movie last night and honestly I loved the movie and I think I must have a different take on it than everyone else To me it was more a character driven than a plot driven story, and I certainly identified with Juno. I went with a friend who is not in the triad, and her knowledge of adoption is limited basically to knowing me, and we shared the same opinion. Both of us were able to take away the same message, and the message was not that adoption was easy or emotionless. Given that the story only spanned a year, I can tell you quite certainly that I was running off to go meet my friends singing songs three months after placement. It took me many years before I could show emotion. Juno actually shared more emotion than I did at the end.

I dont want to start a debate, I think a lot of it has to do with being an English major, but I was able to see it for what it was, and I did laugh at parts, and we practically stood up and cheered for the stepmom at the ultrasound appointment! If it was a documetary, I'd take more of an issue with it, but it wasn't. I think (hope) the general viewing audience is a little smarter than we are giving them credit for, which is why I really wanted to see it with friends who are not directly touched by adoption.

I do understand how some could get upset or offended. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority of birthmoms who enjoyed the movie!

[Jackiejdajda]

I wonder what the women/men of Origins are doing with the term ‘birthmother’ in the news article..
I bet they are very upset..

From the article..

"['Juno'] gives the impression that one can hand a baby off to strangers, have a few tears at the time the baby is born, and then the next day get on with your life as if nothing happened. That is of great, great concern to me," says Mirah Riben, a board member at Origins-USA, a national organization for birth mothers, or women who place their children for adoption.

"I think that's a terrible, terrible message to get across to teenagers and their families."


I had a great deal of trouble with the 'message' in the movie.. The Other Mother..

The Other Mother: A Moment of Truth Movie (1995) (TV)

In that movie the birthmom relentlessly searched for her birthson and in doing so she is considered a hero.. She went against the wishes of the adoptive parents..
She did not consider the others involved and decided that her pain was what was prime in this situation.. again in my opinion..

I felt (at that time) that this was the wrong message to give.. but I did not see any reviews about my thoughts.. Oh well..

I have not seen Juno so I can not comment yet.. but here is a link to Mirah Riben’s blog about the movie..
Juno: Fact And Fiction By Mirah Riben


Jackie

[hollyhunter]

Definately Jackie! I actually believed I was fine and went on with my life the next day, WRONG! People around me were expecting me to fall apart right in front of them at the time. I told myself and them that I was fine and went on with my life as if nothing happened. Seriously I was back to class the next day. I had been hoping she would be born on the weekend so I'd get a couple of days to recoop and she was. I didn't realize until years later that the grief was too painful to face. If I'd have fallen apart I could have lost my other child and that was my fear. I have no desire to see such a movie not even when it comes out on dvd and in the privacy of my own home. I saw the movie "the other mother" but can't remember exactly the details. I suppose it was the wrong message to give that others should not be considered but it is what we do when we are in pain sometimes. Maybe some movies are just to tell a story from the perspective of the prime character and aren't telling us what is right or wrong. We figure that out for ourselves if left to our own devices. I saw a movie on the independant film chanel called "truth and lies" that was pretty good. It just told a story and it was clear that it was just that, a story. There was no moral message being conveyed really, "JUST the facts mam. " But the story was interesting and the reactions seemed real to life.

[Oceans]

I haven't seen the movie either...Don't know why. In my situation, as far as everyone else was concerned, I moved on and put my son behind me. Years later, when I came "out", everyone was surprised and found it hard to believe I was actually suffering all those years. Now fast forward.

A family member has choose to place in an OA. I spent hours convincing other family that OA was healthy for the child and this was the number 1 priority. It has secondary benefits for the bmom true but the child is the priority. My family felt closed was best. Then Juno comes out.... <sigh>. I was back at square one explaining why OA is healthy for all and not "selfish" or "less painful" on the part of the first mom - They weren't seeing "the rest of the story" as it were.

Again, I haven't seen the move, but it caused me some grief at a time when I didn't need it. I just hope most who have seen it (and not touched by adoption) do not walk away with the same impressions some of my family did.