REGARDING HENRY
US, 1991, 108 minutes, Colour.
Harrison Ford, Annette Bening, Bill Nunn, Donald Moffat.
Directed by Mike Nichols.
Regarding Henry was one of a number of films of the early '90s which focused on professional men, especially, who underwent some kind of midlife crisis and were transformed - from a rather cold and ruthless way of living to a more humane perspective and behaviour. Other films include the portrait of Jeff Bridges transformed by Robin Williams in The Fisher King. A lighter touch and a woman lawyer was John Hughes' Curly Sue.
This film is directed by Mike Nichols (whose films range from Virginia Woolf, Graduate, Catch 22 to Postcards from the Edge, Wolf, Working Girl). The film is a star vehicle for Harrison Ford, who during the '80s and '90s became one of the most effective box-office star presences. Apart from the well known action films, his more serious films include Sabrina, Presumed Innocent, Frantic.
Ford plays a lawyer who is shot during a hold-up at a store. We have seen him as ruthless, he now has to discover his life, recall his memories of family and his relationship with his wife. His wife is played by Annette Bening.
The film was not particularly well received - however, for an audience wanting to reflect on contemporary living, the crises facing professional people, the brittleness of marriage, relationships with children, it is an enjoyable and interesting film and well worth discussing.
1 A humane story of the 80s and 80s? A story of a man, a professional man in crisis?
2. New York settings, an affluent world? Legal institutions? Songs and musical score?
3. The title and its tone? Harrison Ford - his screen presence and image?
4. The introduction to Henry, his conduct of the case, his use of people, winning at all costs, not so interested in justice? The team and his belonging to it, the firm, their support of him? The celebration? His relationship with Sarah? The party, his being upset about the table? The piano? His daughter? At home?
5. His going to the shop, buying the cigarettes, the violence, the shooting? His injuries? In hospital, the people's concern, Sarah's vigil, Rachel? The doctor and the explanation of what had happened to Henry?
6. Henry's situation, physical, the lack of memory, the effect on the brain? The introduction to Bradley, his style? The gradual recovery? The physical improvement? Emotional? Mental? The sequences of his improvement? The pathos of his not recognising his family? His not wanting to go home? Bradley and his persuading him to go? The glimpses of memory - the grey carpet? Possibilities for recovery? Sarah, her personality and style, her life with Henry? Adjusting to his injuries? Vigil, concern? Rachel and her love for her father? His coming back? His not being upset with her? The cooking, the housework, the maid? His going for the walk, in the street, going into the pornography cinema? Buying the dog? The bonding in the family? Rachel teaching him to tie his shoelaces? Gradually learning to read? Paint?
8. Going back to work, the support of the chief? Trying to do his job? Jessica and her support? Linda and Bruce - and audiences wondering what was the relationship in the past? Reading the cases, sitting in his office, unable to do his work? The dinner and the speech in his honour? People learning his limitations? Going to the party, overhearing the references to his being an imbecile? His studying the files, becoming curious? His being forbidden to look at the files?
9. The visit to Bradley, his help, talking about his life, learning that his past was not all that successful, morale?
10. The decision for Rachel to go to school, her reluctance, taking her there, the experience at school, the effect on Rachel, their decision to take her away?
11. Henry reviewing his case, the visit to the appellant, giving them the information - their bewilderment?
12. Bruce, the discovery of the letters, his anger with Sarah? The confrontation? The revelation about his affair with Linda and how he conducted it? The bitterness, the sadness, the reconciliation?
13. The portrait of Sarah, the memories of the past, the hard life, the estrangement from Henry? Her affair? The rediscovery of Henry, sharing together, talking, laughing, sexuality? The greater bonding and love?
14. The picture of the '80s and the worship of success? The contrast with the '90s - and the possibilities of becoming more human?
