Comments on: The United States of Canadia: Reflections on rootlessness in movies

By: Robbie

Robbie — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:11:59 +0000

Thank you J for all your very accurate comments. I heard all the references to MN towns, which Minnesotans would recognize but the general public would not. Who cares. What I noticed was the choice in houses in Juno’s neighborhood. They were exactly the little small cracker boxes with the 11″ wide siding from the 50’s or 70’s. I thought the housing was very believable. You have to be from MN to know that kind of housing, though. I don’t think the location is that important for this kind of a movie. In fact, I would think Diablo Cody would like this story to relate to people all over the country because teen pregnancy can happen all over the country and the world. Maybe it’s just Minnesotans who are so curious to know where it was filmed because of all the MN references that are so easy to see and hear in the movie. I know I made an effort to read the credits to see where it was filmed. Slightly disappointed it wasn’t filmed here, but also realized it’s cheaper to film it in Canada, though not by much.

By: J

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:48:49 +0000

I think Diablo Cody wanted to create a ficticous suburb loosely based upon where she grew up and focus on the storyline. I think they actually did a very good job of locating it in Minnesota. There are characters wearing Vikings, Wild and North Star Jerseys, the references to St. Cloud, Stillwater, and Mankato, the convenience story scene with Rainn Wilson has a Minnesota state lottery sign, 320 area code, the multiple Minnesota license plates. That’s a lot of attention to detail. I think they actually did an extraordinary job of placing it in Minnesota for anyone who is truly interested in placing it. For most viewers it’s clear enough that they are in a random suburb. Many people might actually prefer to feel like it could be happening in a surburb they themselves have lived in. I get your point about shooting on actual location, but movies are all about imagery. Sometimes a location provides a better presentation than the actual location. It’s been Hollywood’s m.o. for decades to shoot in a location that gives them the best opportunity to tell their story, and that’s not always the actual physical location. Cost is also a factor. It costs a lot more to shoot in Minnesota than in Vancouver and this was a small budget movie. Overall I think they captured the Minnesota feel pretty well and made a good movie that anyone can enjoy. And if someone were truly interested in placing it could do so by paying attention to some of the finer details.

By: Jim VanDam

Jim VanDam — Sun, 04 May 2008 03:46:10 +0000

Didn’ t they say on the movie that they were an hour west of St. Cloud, which woiuld put them in the Alexandria, Glenwood region?

By: Andy Paulson

Andy Paulson — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 07:05:34 +0000

that could be very true cause robbinsdale is about an hour from st. cloud and only about 20 mins from ridgedale mall, its also about an hour from mankato. so setting it in robbinsdale is very plausible.

By: Jess

Jess — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 22:30:25 +0000

Just found out the writer of the screenplay was from Robbinsdale, MN…a suburb just northwest of Minneapolis proper. Pretty cool. Maybe this was an influence on her setting, and possibly the “home” of our beloved Juno.

By: Andy Paulson

Andy Paulson — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 02:09:15 +0000

so since it mentions St. Cloud and the ridgedale mall, and mancado does anyone know exactly im MN they are trying to portray?? cause that would be cool to know.

By: Mindy

Mindy — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:03:29 +0000

I just had to make a quick comment here too cause I was so intrigued with this movie, I too wanted to find out what town it was being “placed” in and noticed the debate about location. If you remember when she’s looking for the abortion ad, the page they showed had a telephone number… the area code was 320. That’s basically an area north of the Minnesota River, west of the Twin Cities and South of the Mississippi to a certain point. So that’s what told me it was in MN. Just wanted to throw that out there for you!

By: Jess

Jess — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:15:32 +0000

I may have been a little over the top in my comments on Juno’s setting. Everyone loves a little hyperbole (or so I figure). I only wanted to voice my agreement with the blog’s author on the value of shooting a movie in the actual location in which its story was set.

You can call a thing whatever you would like, but the act of naming will not make it become that something. A rose by any other name, right? Slap MN license plates on a few vehicles and perfect the accent if you will. I appreciate the efforts, but the fact is that not as many viewers would buy it if you shot a film Canada and attempted to pass it off as a “New York” suburb.

I’m glad your 5 year old can read.

However, to me, signs, place names, and even accents don’t fully convey the feeling of being in a certain place. Especially a place with an identity like Minnesota. Sure, it likely fools the masses, and I doubt many people left that theater with the same wonderings that I did. But, I’m still left feeling like a little something was missing. I loved the film…loved the title…loved the actors…would recommend it to almost anyone. I’m not asking for a caricature or cartoon portrayal. I only wish a good film like this had the opportunity to be shot on site–to clench the title of “great” through a genuine sense of place…instead of a manufactured one.

By: D

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:54:25 +0000

One thing I noticed is that the mascot was the dancing elk condors, and a town that is about a half hour south of st. cloud, and about an hour north of stillwater is elk river, home of the elks. maybe it is a possibility, or just a coincidence that the production company has the same name.

By: Red

Red — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 05:34:01 +0000

Correction to my above post, St. Cloud is northWEST of Minneapolis.