My Own Private Idaho

Based On the book by William Shakespeare

My Own Private Idaho is a 1991 American independent adventure drama film written and directed by Gus Van Sant, loosely based on William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1; Henry IV, Part 2; and Henry V. The story follows two friends, Mike Waters and Scott Favor, played by River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves, respectively, as they embark on a journey of personal discovery that takes them from Portland, Oregon, to Mike's hometown in Idaho, and then to Rome in search of Mike's mother. My Own Private Idaho had its premiere at the 48th Venice International Film Festival, and received largely positive reviews from critics, including Roger Ebert and those of The New York Times and Entertainment Weekly. The film was a moderate financial success, grossing over $8 million, above its estimated budget of $2.5 million. Phoenix received several accolades for his performance in the film, including the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 1991 Venice Film Festival, Best Male Lead from the Independent Spirit Awards, and Best Actor from the National Society of Film Critics.

Summary: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Release date:

July 20, 1991

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Cast:

Keanu Reeves, River Phoenix, James Russo, Rodney Harvey, Chiara Caselli

Genre:

Drama, LGBTQ-related, Independent, Buddy, Road

Country:

United States

Language:

English

Year page:

1991 in adaptations