My Own Private Idaho (1991)
Gus Van Sant's lyrical road movie follows two street hustlers searching for belonging, love, and a mother lost to time.
My Own Private Idaho - Movie Information
- Original Title: My Own Private Idaho
- Release Year: 1991
- Directed by: Gus Van Sant
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 44m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: German, Italian, English
- Release Date (Theatrical): February 1, 1991 (Belgium - 18), March 27, 1992 (United Kingdom - 15), January 15, 1992 (France - 12), March 26, 1992 (Australia - M), June 12, 1992 (Brazil - 18), December 3, 1993 (Mexico), February 1, 1991 (South Korea - 18)
- Alternative Titles: Belli e Dannati (IT), Idaho (CA), 我私人的爱达荷 (CN), Mi Idaho privado (ES), Das Ende der Unschuld (DE), 男人的一半還是男人 (TW), Моят личен Айдахо (BG), Idaho: El camino de mis sueños (MX)
- Production Companies: New Line Cinema
- Production Countries: United States of America
My Own Private Idaho - Plot
In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Mike Waters is a hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find Mike's estranged mother. Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant.
My Own Private Idaho - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see where the road leads:
Wherever, whatever, have a nice day.
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My Own Private Idaho - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Gus Van Sant
Main Cast
- River Phoenix
- Keanu Reeves
- James Russo
- William Richert
- Rodney Harvey
- Chiara Caselli
- Michael Parker
- Jessica Makinson
- Flea
- Grace Zabriskie
Writers
- Gus Van Sant
Producers
- Laurie Parker
My Own Private Idaho - FAQs
What is My Own Private Idaho about?
My Own Private Idaho follows Mike Waters, a narcoleptic street hustler, and Scott Favor, a rebellious mayor's son, as they travel from Portland to Idaho and Italy searching for Mike's estranged mother. Loosely inspired by Shakespeare's Henry IV, the film is a poetic, deeply personal road movie about longing, identity, and unrequited love.
Does Mike Waters love Scott Favor in the film?
Yes, and it's one of the film's most heartbreaking threads. Mike openly confesses his love for Scott in a campfire scene that River Phoenix improvised on set. Scott, however, doesn't reciprocate romantically, and his eventual abandonment of Mike for a conventional life makes the film's emotional core quietly devastating.
Where can you stream My Own Private Idaho?
You can stream My Own Private Idaho on the Criterion Channel. It's also available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home — so finding it shouldn't be a problem.
Is My Own Private Idaho based on Shakespeare?
Yes, loosely. Gus Van Sant drew heavily from Shakespeare's Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, mapping the Hal and Falstaff dynamic onto Scott and Bob Pigeon. The film weaves in actual Shakespearean dialogue alongside contemporary street language, creating a bold, unconventional blend of classic literature and gritty modern realism.
Who are the main actors in My Own Private Idaho?
River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves lead the cast as Mike Waters and Scott Favor. They're joined by James Russo, William Richert as the Falstaff-inspired Bob Pigeon, Chiara Caselli, Rodney Harvey, and Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea in a supporting role.
Is My Own Private Idaho worth watching?
Absolutely. It holds a strong critical reputation as one of the defining films of the New Queer Cinema movement. River Phoenix delivers what many consider the performance of his career, and Gus Van Sant's fragmented, dreamlike direction gives the film a haunting quality that stays with you long after it ends.
What awards did My Own Private Idaho win?
River Phoenix won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival for his role as Mike Waters — a widely celebrated win. The film also received Independent Spirit Award nominations and is frequently cited on critics' lists of the greatest American independent films of the 1990s.
Where was My Own Private Idaho filmed?
Principal photography took place across the Pacific Northwest, including Portland and the high desert landscapes of Idaho, which give the film its distinctive, wide-open visual identity. A key portion of the story also unfolds in Rome, Italy, where the characters' journey reaches its emotional turning point.
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