Juno

What does growing up mean? It is true that sometimes it can seem that is sad to grow up: gone are the days that seemed easier, far from certain are responsibilities or worries. However, that does not seem the case of Juno, who has just discovered that at age 16 she is pregnant of his best friend's child: it was only once they had sex and she let him take off her white trousers with the apples... and now she is expecting a child.

What can a teenager do about facing such a dilemma? This is when the film gives us the first surprise, because the very young Juno may ignore many things, but she knows perfectly, if not who she is, at least what she is not and doesn’t want to be. She is not afraid to be different from her fellow teenagers, who only think about how to be liked by others or how to fit into a system. Above all, she is able not to sink into deep meaningless mortification: she sees things as they are, others are finally stranger than her.

The truth is that very soon we enter into the logic of Juno and admire this brave teenager who has decided to have a child, give the kid for adoption, and maintain the friendly relationship with her friend.

Finally, she does not want to mortify anyone, not even her unborn kid. She is smart enough to know she is not ready for motherhood, with such clarity, integrity and generosity that it is difficult not to start seeing the other characters as misfits. For example, the emergence of this quasi-woman reveals immediately the problems holding up a marriage that was thought to be perfect and abiding by certain social norms.

That is why, finally, to watch "Juno" is a delightful and deep experience,  from beginning to the end because the simplicity of the protagonist reminds us that life is much easier than we think, that growing up should not be a sad thing if you keep a fresh perspective and that we all have full right to fulfill ourselves, to make our own decisions even if it means giving up certain things or not being able to do them in company of someone.

Director: Jason Reitman

Writer: Diablo Cody

Stars: Ellen Page, Michael Cera and Jennifer Garner