It all began with a chair.
This is how everything starts. Diablo Cody’s Juno has it all—witty one-liners, self-discovery, a protagonist who is a bit of a misfit, and an upbeat soundtrack. You can’t help but to feel happy at the end of the film, especially after the final scene. Let’s take a look at the mise-en-scène of the end of Juno.
Looking at Movies defines mise-en-scène as, “The overall look and feel of a movie—the sum of everything the audience sees, hears, and experiences while viewing it.” Specifically, we’ll take a close look at the setting, lighting, costumes, and props in the final closing scene of Juno. All of these aspects are diegetic elements of the film, or an element (event, character, object, setting, sound, etc.) that helps form the world in which the story occurs. Things that we see and hear on the screen that comes from outside the world of the story, on the other hand, (including background music, titles and credits, and voice-over narration) are all nondiegetic elements.
Setting: At the end of the film, Juno joins Bleeker on the front steps outside of his house. We already learned that it is now summer based on the transition from the previous scene. Bleeker and Juno each have a guitar with them. Juno’s bike is next to her as she just rode it over to meet up with Bleeker.
Lighting: Because it’s summer and the two are outside, there is lots of natural light coming from the sun. There are shadows cast around from the trees in the yard and on the side of the street. The lighting used in this scene has an overall happy feeling because the colors are light, bright, and warm.
Costumes: The costumes used in this final scene are characteristic of the rest of the movie. Juno is wearing baggy, tattered jeans, an oversized flannel, and high top Converse. Bleeker is wearing khaki pants, a polo, a hoodie, and sneakers. This demonstrates how comfortable the two are with each other and in their relationship. It is also typical outfits for each of the two main characters.
Props: The only props that are really being used in this scene are the two guitars and the bike. As previously mentioned, Juno rode her bike over to Bleeker’s house and it is now leaning up against the wall next to her. Juno and Bleeker each have a guitar because they are playing and singing a duet. This song was in the background earlier in the movie. Earlier in the film, Juno had mentioned getting the band back together. The two of them playing together could signify that they are planning on either starting up their band again, or they just like to play together.
All of these elements, when added together, leave the audience feeling happy. It’s clear that Juno and Bleeker like each other, so the audience has been “rooting” for the two of them throughout. The song is cutesy and upbeat, which adds to our positive feeling, along with the knowledge that Vanessa was able to inevitably adopt Juno’s baby, which is what she really wanted all along. The overall composition and design leaves the viewer feeling happy at the end of the film.
References
Barsam, Richard, and Dave Monahan. Looking at Movies. 4th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc, 2013. 2-61. Print.
Cody, Diablo, writ. Juno. 2007. Film. 6 Feb 2014.
Barsam, Richard, and Dave Monahan. Looking at Movies. 4th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc, 2013. 2-61. Print.
Cody, Diablo, writ. Juno. 2007. Film. 6 Feb 2014.