Well, have you seen the 4 time Academy Award nominated movie Juno yet? I loved it. I did. I thought it was funny and smart, but there are those in the adoption community who loved it not. Honest to blog, as Juno would say. So, what are some of the issues with the movie?
For starters:- Rude comments about Chinese adoptions.
- Incorrect adoption language. Some of you may remember our past conversations regarding adoption language.
- Juno wanted to "kick it old-school" with a closed adoption.
- The movie did not show the long-term after effects of placing a child.
Seriously, I don't know if a movie can address the long-term effects of adoption. (There's a challenge for any budding screen writers.) As for the other stuff - it's a teen movie for teens about teen pregnancy with teen language and teen ignorance. I think that sums it up right there. I didn't find any of the comments offensive, because a 16-year-old girl was making the comments. I think we should use this as an opportunity to teach, but I say all that in my review of the movie Juno. Also, we're discussing this in the forum right now.
Any other thoughts, just click "comments" below and share.
An opporunity to teacch is a great way to look at that. The problem is, however, that those not directly involved in adoption have know inclination to teach the lessons that need to be learned. Lots of people see the movie w/ no follow up comments/lessons from those more familiar with the realities of the situation. Therein lies a dilemna.
Oh please! Isn’t it good news that someone has actually made a film that shows teens that if they do get in trouble, that there is an alternative to abortion like they usually do. I know they don’t do a follow up or show long-term after affects of adoption but I thought it was great. It has a moral to it and is directed at teens so I thought it did do adoption justice. As an adoptive parent, I can say this with pride. I liked it. I also thought her adoptive terminology was funny – lighten up! It’s a traumatic thing going through all the law jargon, give her a break.
I hated this movie. I, too, am an adoptive parent, a very imperfect one. Read a bit from the point of view of people who have grown up adopted: http://www.adoptioncrossroads.org/what_they_knew_&_didn't_tell_us.html
Juno is a silly, simplistic, snarky fantasy written by someone with no idea about the problems faced by adopted kids.