phillip kaufman love examination of anais nin relationship with henry and june miller be an enthral journey . in the film anais be inspire by henry and june to descend into a world of debauchery that fuel her erotic writing . we the audience see henry and june through the eye of anais and which may mean it not exactly a they really be and but rather a romanticised version of them . this be not a biopic of henry miller and which be the foolish mistake that some reviewer seem to make on the film release . the script tend to meander a bit and lack any real plot . each scene live for itself and some more successfully than others . but in the torrid climax when anais wild way have finally catch up with her and it all come together nicely to leave a feeling of completion . the cast be first rate . maria de medeiros and despite not have top billing and get the bulk of the screen time a anais . she have a captivating look and and embody a sense of innocence throughout and despite display the most promiscuous nature . if at time she overdo the melodrama and she should be commend for manage to purr out some rather flowery dialogue without sound silly . many less actress would have falter . in what be undoubtably the highlight of his film career and fred ward instils henry with some old style charisma and gusto . while he give u a throughly entertaining henry and i still however have trouble see this character a a writer of erotic fiction . he seem too much like a man man . the original casting choice of alec baldwin would make more sense in this case and but i doubt in the end he would have be a entertain in the role a ward . uma thurman and a june and give a memorable performance . it the most showy character in the film and and thurman get the chance for plenty of legitimate scenery chewing . she use the full scale of emotion and perform a transformation of the character from menace seductress to pitiful emotional wreck . despite the surprising comment of one of the other poster here and it really be one of the best performance of her young and promising career . in support and richard e. grant be awkward ( probably purposely ) a hugo and anais well hung and faithful husband . jean philippe écoffey be adequate a anais cousin and brief lover . kevin spacey be amuse in what now look like a cameo and but then be quite an important role for him . philippe rousselot cinematography be beautifully do . he create an almost surreal feeling of paris in the 1930 . the music be also well place and add to this mood . kaufman and rousselot make the numerous sex scene thing of beauty rather than titillate and they get creative with them . in fact and the film be surprisingly unarousing consider the amount of sex occur in it . whether this be a good thing or a bad thing i guess you can decide for yourself . why on earth it get an nc 17 rating i do not know . i doubt it would if release today . not everyone will like this film . it be arty farty so to speak . it maybe even a little pretentious . but i find it to be a fascinating and just plain absorb trip . i have manage to find the time to watch it quite a few time and and it seem to improve with age . i recommend it to any think filmgoers . positive .