Themes: Sexual Awakening, Bohemian Life, Writer's Life
Main Cast: Maria de Medeiros, Fred Ward, Uma Thurman, Richard E. Grant, Kevin Spacey
Release Year: 1990
Country: US
Run Time: 136 minutes
MPAA Rating: NC17
Plot
The real-life relationship between two of the most controversial literary figures of the 20th century forms the basis for this drama. Anaïs Nin (Maria de Medeiros) is a struggling author trying to finish her first book, a study of the work of D.H. Lawrence. She also has a keen sexual curiosity that is not being satisfied by her sweet but unexciting husband, Hugo (Richard E. Grant). Through Hugo's friend Richard (Kevin Spacey), Anaïs is introduced to Henry Miller (Fred Ward), a writer from America who shares Anaïs' passion for both eros and literature; she is later introduced to June (Uma Thurman), Henry's wife and a practicing bisexual. While Anaïs is attracted to Henry, to her surprise, she's even more strongly drawn to June; June, however, must return to America, and with her approval, Henry and Anaïs begin an affair. Anaïs' newfound sense of sexual liberation leads her to several new lovers over the next several months, but she and Henry find themselves pursuing the same object of affection when June returns to Paris. Henry & June's frank but tasteful treatment of sexual themes led the MPAA to threaten the film with an X-rating; instead, the film became the first feature released with the revised NC-17 classification. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
It's not every day that the Motion Picture Association of America creates a new rating, but that's what happened in 1990 with Henry & June, Philip Kaufman's biography of author Henry Miller. By giving the film the an NC-17 rating, the MPAA allowed it to be seen in many parts of mainstream America, where an X-rating would have meant banishment. Though the rating has since become almost as reviled as the X, the intended differentiation between pornography and art was clear. In the end, Henry & June is not particularly erotic, but it is boldly sensual, in the vein of Kaufman's previous film The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Most of the performances -- save for Fred Ward's portrayal of the rather pitiful Miller and Kevin Spacey's minor but memorable role -- are overshadowed by the film's visual splendor. Even the alluring Uma Thurman (as Miller's wife, June) and Maria de Medeiros (as Anaïs Nin) can't compete with production designer Guy-Claude François' stunning recreation of 1930s Paris. Philippe Rousselot was rightfully nominated for an Academy Award for his lavish cinematography. ~ Brendon Hanley, All Movie Guide
Jean-Philippe Ecoffey - Eduardo Sanchez; Bruce Myers - Jack; Féodor Atkine - Paco Miralles, Spanish Dance Instructor; Sylvie Huguel - Emilia; Artus de Penguern - Brassai; Pierre Etaix - Friend; Gaetan Bloom - Magician; Alexandra de Gall - Clown; Brigitte Lahaie - Henry's Whore; Maite Maille - Frail Prostitute; Samuel Ateba - Black Musician for Quat'z Arts Ball; Louis Bessieres - Accordionist; J. Bunuel - Publisher/Editor; Karine Couvelard - Osborn's Girl Friend; Pierre Edemac; Maurice Escargot - Pop; Annie Fratellini - The Patronne; Liz Hasse - Jean; Frank Heiler - Steamship Agent; Claire Joubert - Contortionist; Stephanie Leboulanger - Prostitute Brushing Long Hair; Marc Maury - Man in Silent Film; Suzy Palatin - Bal Negre Performer; Annie Vincent - Fat Prostitute
Credit
Thierry Francois - Art Director, Georges Glon - Art Director, Nathalie Erlbaum - Choreography, Jacqueline West - Consultant/advisor, Yvonne Sassinot de Nesle - Costume Designer, Philip Kaufman - Director, Dede Allen - Editor, Vivien Hillgrove - Editor, William Scharf - Editor, Mark Adler - Composer (Music Score), Philip Kaufman - Musical Direction/Supervision, Rose Kaufman - Musical Direction/Supervision, Didier Lavergne - Makeup, Guy-Claude Francois - Production Designer, Philippe Rousselot - Cinematographer, Peter Kaufman - Producer, Thierry Francois - Set Designer, Alan Splet - Sound/Sound Designer, Philip Kaufman - Screenwriter, Rose Kaufman - Screenwriter, Anaïs Nin - Book Author
This article is about the movie based upon the Anaïs Nin book. For the original book, see Henry and June. For the cartoon characters Henry and June, see KaBlam!.
The story takes place in and around Paris, France in 1931. The story told is one of a love triangle between the Millers and Anaïs Nin (Medeiros). She is in a stable relationship with her husband Hugo (Richard E. Grant), but longs for more out of life. When Anaïs first meets Henry Miller (Ward), she sees in him a rough man from New York. He has a talent in literature and is working on his first book. Nin sees Henry and his wife June (Thurman) as having a liberating, bohemian lifestyle that she is drawn towards. Nin becomes involved in the couple's tormented relationship, having an affair with Henry and also pursuing June. Ultimately, Nin helps Henry to publish his novel, Tropic of Cancer, but catalyzes the Millers' separation, while she returns to her husband Hugo.
Vincent Scotto, lyrics by George Koger and H. Vama, J'ai deux amours (Josephine Baker)
Rating
Henry & June was the first film to receive the MPAA's rating of NC-17, which had been devised as a replacement for the X rating. NC-17 was intended to signify serious, non-pornographic films with more violence or (especially) sexual content than would qualify for an R rating. The inclusion of the postcard Nin views at the start of the film (which is of Hokusai'sThe Dream of the Fisherman's Wife), and some scenes of le Bal des Beaux Arts contributed to the NC-17 rating.
The film was given a more lenient M rating in Australia. Conversely, it was banned in South Africa. The ban has since been lifted. The film was given an R18 rating in New Zealand.
