Henry & June


Henry & June is a 1990 American biographical drama film directed by Philip Kaufman, and starring Fred Ward, Uma Thurman, and Maria de Medeiros. It is loosely based on the posthumously published 1986 Anaïs Nin book of the same name, and tells the story of Nin's relationship with Henry Miller and his wife, June.
The film was nominated for Best Cinematography at the 63rd Academy Awards. It is one of three NC-17 films to receive Oscar nominations; the other films are Wild at Heart and Requiem for a Dream.

Plot synopsis

In 1931 in Paris, France, Anaïs Nin is in a stable relationship with her husband Hugo, but longs for more out of life. When Nin first meets Henry Miller, he is working on his first novel. Nin is drawn to Miller and his wife June, as well as their bohemian lifestyle. Nin becomes involved in the couple's tormented relationship, having an affair with Miller and also pursuing June. Ultimately, Nin helps Miller to publish his novel, Tropic of Cancer, but catalyzes the Millers' separation, while she returns to Hugo.

Cast

The soundtrack was arranged by Mark Adler, consisting of period popular songs.
  1. Jean Lenoir, "Parlez-moi d'amour"
  2. Claude Debussy, Six épigraphes antiques: Pour l'égyptienne
  3. Francis Poulenc, "Les chemins de l'amour"
  4. Debussy, Petite Suite: "Ballet"
  5. Harry Warren, "I Found a Million Dollar Baby"
  6. Erik Satie, "Gnossienne No. 3"
  7. Satie, "Je te veux"
  8. Debussy, "Sonata for Violin and Piano"
  9. Frédéric Chopin, List of compositions by Frédéric Chopin| Nocturne No. 1 in C Major
  10. Georges Auric, "Sous les toits de Paris"
  11. Jacques Larmanjat, lyrics by Francis Carco, "Le doux caboulot"
  12. Debussy, "La plus que lente"
  13. "Je m'ennuie"
  14. "Coralia"
  15. Irving Mills, "St. James Infirmary Blues"
  16. Francisco Tárrega, "Gran Vals"
  17. Joaquin Nin-Culmell, "Basque Song"
  18. Vincent Scotto, lyrics by George Koger and H. Vama, "J'ai deux amours"

    Rating

Henry & June was the first film to receive the MPAA's rating of NC-17 which was devised as a replacement for the X rating. NC-17 was intended to signify serious, non-pornographic films with more violence or sexual content than would qualify for an R rating. The inclusion of the postcard Nin views at the start of the film, 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 and an uncut 18 in the United Kingdom. Conversely, it was banned in South Africa. The ban has since been lifted. The film was given an R18 rating in New Zealand.

Reception

Box office

Henry & June grossed $11,567,449 in the domestic market and $11,905,000 internationally for a worldwide total of $23,472,449.

Critical reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics. Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a B-, but felt that, "Kaufman, trying to deepen the erotic explorations of Unbearable Lightness, ends up with a triangle movie that’s watchable but also arty and rather stilted. The biggest disappointment of the film is that, after all the ratings brouhaha, it’s not very sexy." Janet Maslin of The New York Times noted the film's efforts to present sex in a more artistic, highbrow manner, remarking, "The film's sex scenes, photographed delicately by Philippe Rousselot and directed with great intensity by Mr. Kaufman, are particularly lofty. These sequences, often tinged with symbolism, tend to be self-consciously bold," but felt the film lacked daring.
The film has a 62% approval rating on review aggregate Rotten Tomatoes based on 21 reviews, with an average rating of 6.09/10. The site's consensus reads, "Henry & June celebrates sensuality and passion, though the portentous filmmaking drags it down by a large degree".