HENRY & JUNE

US, 1990, 136 minutes, Colour.
Fred Ward, Emma Thurman, Maria De Medeiros, Richard E. Grant, Kevin Spacey.
Directed by Philip Kaufmann.

Based on the diaries of writer, Anais Nin and her relationships, literary, sexual, with novelist Henry Miller and his wife, June, in early 1930s in Paris, this film is a dramatisation of the period and its quest for freedom, liberation, sexual experimentation, hedonism, fidelity and infidelity, morality and amorality.

The film is often explicit, making it puzzling and offputting for the ordinary audience. Literature and history students will be able to put it into context, but may find it laborious and, sometimes, tedious as well as intentionally or unintentionally ludicrous – moral and amoral quests.

1. Audience interest in and knowledge of Henry Miller? The reputation of Henry Miller and his book, Tropic of Cancer? This film as informative, biographical, portrait, raising issues and sexuality?

2. Paris in the 1930s, costumes and decor, the city, the landmarks, homes, business world, social world, sex, arts, publishing, brothels? Atmosphere and musical score?

3. The film based on Anais Nin’s diaries, life, her career in writing, the sexual awakening, explorations of sexuality? Relationships?

4. Her portrait, her background, Europe, the US, marrying Hugo, his business associations? Going to Paris? Her life in Paris, marriage, love for Hugo, the bonds, their sex life? Her curiosity? Introducing the visuals of art, films of the period?

5. The use of the movies, Bunuel, avant-garde, sex movies, pornography?

6. Henry Miller entering her life, his friendship with Hugo, his associates in Paris, the American, looking shabby, his appearance, hat, clothes? His work as a writer? Interest in sexuality? The marriage to June, the influence? The process of writing Tropic of Cancer, first anonymous, moving to publication – and its being banned? An American in Paris, the meetings with Anais? June’s arrival, the influence on him? Sexuality, her cultivating Henry as a writer? The background in America, Pop, finance, the sexual exhibitionism with him? Henry seeing this? June and her partner in New York, her departure? June and her life in Paris?

7. An alias and her writing, the study of DH Lawrence, the conversations about Lawrence, six, that being explicit, sensual, brutish? Issues of pictures, language? Henry Miller of the brothels, and their centre curiosity, the modem and the brothel, sexual combinations, choosing prostitutes for observing sexual performance? The effect on an ACE?

8. Hugo, his business world, love for his wife, rather carefree, social involvement, not suspicious of her? The quiet of their domestic scenes?

9. June, her life in America, her attitudes, the partner living in the apartment? The attraction to and these? Together, the sexual attraction, experiences? June and a need for money, and a spraying, the ticket back to New York?

10. Anais and Henry Miller, together, the beginning of the affair, the impact on each of them, secrecy, sexual exploration, mutual dependence? June and her return, ASnais’ bond with June? Anais her cousin, the past relationship, his devotion to her? Her saying he was her lover?

11. June, her reaction, learning of the affair, her being hurt, wanting the contract with the publisher, concern about money, her anger, throwing the manuscript in the air?

12. The issue of publication, Anais supportive, the editor, the social meeting?

13. The background Paris, social life, the variety of characters?

14. The end of the affair? The final credits, information about the continued friendship between Anais and Henry? June as a social worker in New York City?

15. The subsequent reputation of Henry Miller?