Henry & June

1990

Henry & June

Critics Consensus

Henry & June celebrates sensuality and passion, though the portentous filmmaking drags it down by a large degree.

60%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 20

69%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 7,860
User image

Henry & June Photos

View All Photos (2)

Movie Info

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, Rovi
  • Rating:
    NC17 (adult situations/language, nudity, sex)
  • Genre:
    Drama, Romance
  • Directed By:
    Philip Kaufman
  • Written By:
    Rose Kaufman, Philip Kaufman
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    MCA Universal Home Video

Cast

Fred Ward
as Henry Miller
Maria de Medeiros
as Anais Nin
Uma Thurman
as June Miller
Richard E. Grant
as Hugo Guiler
Kevin Spacey
as Osborn
Jean-Philippe Écoffey
as Eduardo
Bruce Myers
as Jack
Jean-Louis Bunuel
as Editor-Publisher
Feodor Atkine
as Spanish Dance Instructor
Sylvie Huguel
as Emilia
Artus de Penguern
as Brassai
Pierre Étaix
as Friend
Alexandre de Gall
as Clown
Karine Couvelard
as Osborn's Girl Friend
Gaëtan Bloom
as Magician
Alexandra de Gall
as Clown
Louis Bessieres
as Accordionist
Brigitte Lahaie
as Henry's Whore
Annie Fratellini
as The Patronne
Maite Maille
as Frail Prostitute
Frank Heiler
as Steamship Agent
J. Bunuel
as Publisher/Editor
Pierre Edemac
Stephanie Leboulanger
as Prostitute Brushing Long Hair
Suzy Palatin
as Bal Negre Performer
Samuel Ateba
as Black Musician for Quat'z Arts Ball
Marc Maury
as Man in Silent Film
Annie Vincent
as Fat Prostitute
Maurice Escargot
as Pop
Liz Hasse
as Jean
Claire Joubert
as Contortionist
View All

Critic Reviews for Henry & June

All Critics (20) | Top Critics (6)

View All Critic Reviews (20)

Audience Reviews for Henry & June

  • Sep 11, 2010
    It is interesting watching a movie in 2009 made with a 1990’s take on a story that take place in the 1940’s. The pitch for the story is that it is an intellectual story with steamy romance, but to me it still comes off as soft core porn with an interesting plot. I have to say that I have never finished reading either Miller work I can’t tolerate his open misogyny to get tot there point. Most of my focus in the movie is to Maria se Mederios and Umma Therman. Maria is delicately beautiful and her acting is very subtle. Her role in the movie is limited to voice-over, long diatribes or intercourse. I would have been more enjoyable to have her as an active participant in her life. In the end the character she portrays does not ring true to the person Anis really was. The young Uma Therman is a beautiful as ever, however the New York accent seems tacked on and would be better off left out. His relationship with Ward is really not well defined. The scenes with Maria are well defined the required manipulative qualities. If you strip away the accent this is probably here best acting role. Fred Wards fake bald head really caught my eye and is really distracting. Kevin Spacey bit part adds more to the picture than Fred Ward. Ward is better suited for blowing-up things in Tremors. Too Bad Spacy was not cast as Miller.
    Bill C Super Reviewer
  • Jan 24, 2010
    A remarkably graphic tale involving Henry Miller. It is surprising but rewarding.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Jun 29, 2008
    Phillip Kaufman's adaptation of the Anais Nin book of the same name is mainly remembered today as the first film to receive an NC-17 rating. This little footnote in film history will probably remain the film's only claim to fame, as I thought it was otherwise a rather lackluster production. Despite the title, June is barely in this, which makes me wonder why Uma Thurman was given first billing. The film's real star is Maria de Medeiros who is probably best remembered for playing Bruce Willis' girlfriend in Pulp Fiction. By the tenth sex scene I was pretty bored with this thing, Henry and June Miller seemed to do very little other than write and fuck, why they decided a movie needed to be made about them I do not know. It was pretty well shot and acted however.
    MJS M Super Reviewer
  • Dec 26, 2007
    The film has a lot going for it - especially a beautiful cinematography and a wonderful, sexy cast - but ultimately feels like it isn't telling much of a story.
    Quinto W Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Henry & June Quotes

View All Quotes

News & Features