Maybe I have a thing for erotica. Maybe I love artsy-fartsy films about writers in Paris (I loved Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris too). Maybe it’s because I watched the entire movie in peace without interruptions (even rewinding and replaying dialogue I didn’t catch the first time). Whatever the reason, I found Henry and June (1990) to be wonderful.
Why was I drawn to it in the first place? It is about writersand reckless abandon in the 1930s. Need I say more? It is about love and sex in a different era. There is a love
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triangle between Henry Miller, Anais Nin and Uma Thurman (she plays June Miller in the movie). The story takes place during the time that Henry Miller is writing Tropic of Cancer and Anais Nin is compiling her famous diaries. It’s based on the book of the same name by Anais Nin who is the author of one of my favorite quotes:
And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
The Highlights:
- The cinematography – The lighting and 1930s settings and imagery make me want to light up a cigarette and glide through a cabaret.
- After meeting Henry Miller for the first time, Anais Nin writes in her diary, He is a man life intoxicates. He is like me. I instantly find both characters interesting.
- The clothing – This is minor but I love the hats and fitted dresses of this time period. So feminine. I was so inspired I went on Etsy to see what I could find under vintage 1930s clothing. Sadly, the dresses for sale of the era are made for extremely dainty women. One dress had a 17″ waist. I believe that is what Scarlet O’Hara’s waist was in Gone with the Wind. Scarlet was prone to passing out.
- The erotica – This film is not for children. Beautiful nudity and sexuality abound with little to no inhibition. It seems all they did back then was pontificate and fornicate. I suggest you watch Henry and June with someone you are eager to get naked with while viewing the film or if you have superb restraint, afterwards. I watched it by myself and had to cool down with unsexy thoughts of Larry King and Mother Teresa.
What’s Missing? Some might say a story line. It does meander and for me the inevitable confrontation with June Miller is anti-climactic (bad pun;).
I saw the overall story as Anais Nin’s liberation from her banker husband and the lifestyle that surrounds them, although she never fully untethers herself from him. Anais seeks her truth via sexual freedom. As she has dalliances with Henry and June Miller her physical openness fosters openness in her writing, even giving her the courage to share it with Henry Miller – prior to this she has only shown her work to Hugo (her husband).
One other minor flaw- Fred Ward’s (Henry Miller) obvious bald cap and goofy hair ring were a distraction. I wanted him to keep his hat on at ALL times.
Who should watch this film? Anyone with an interest in literary greats. Anyone who appreciates period pieces and all their cinematic glory and nostalgia. Anyone who can see sexuality as a means to self-revelation and creativity.
OK. This is on my Netflix queue. Thank you.
Thanks for the recap. I heard it was good but had no idea it was based on a true story, artistic, and deep. I kept picturing Benny and Joon…hehe…not so much the same 😉 Now that that picture is officially gone…I will put it at the top of my list. I honestly have been looking for a good flick, and this one sounds right up my alley.
You should read the book, too. There’s just so much there that isn’t even hinted at in the movie.
She said the book was so good that I’m wondering if I should read it first. I had already put it on my hit list while reading the article about the movie. What’s your opinion? Is it a book you scarf up because it’s so good, or does it take awhile to read?
I devoured it. I have since read it roughly five times, as well as some of the books that came after it (although this one is by far better than the later books). It’s hard to say which you should do first, because they’re so different.
I’m set now. I went on line and reserved the one they have in stock at the library, and put the movie at the top of my list on Netflix. I’ll probably read the book, then pop the movie the rest of the way to the top. Thanks for your advice!
My pleasure. 🙂
One of my favorites! And the book is always better, but when I finally get my second copy to you, you won’t believe the abundance of substance the film sidestepped. It’s a masterpiece. We will have to meet up – of even for a moment – soon, so I can get that to you. 🙂
I remembered this is a favorite of yours.:) Do you have other Anais Nin writings? I definitely want to explore her work more. I love the flow in her prose. Miller has his own talky, filthy style too.;)
I do; I also have The Diary of Anais Nin Volume 1 (1931-1934 … H&J is *supposedly* the unexpurgated version of this, but that’s not quite true- there are things in the Diary diary that are not in H&J!), Incest (the unexpurgated volume after H&J), Fire (comes after Incest), and Delta of Venus and Little Birds, which are both erotica. They can’t hold a candle to her true stories. Then there is also A Literate Passion, which I mentioned on Facebook.