My Own Private Idaho

  • June 29, 2025 / 15:00
  • July 9, 2025 / 19:00

Director: Gus Van Sant
Cast: River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, James Russo, William Richert
USA, 1991, 104', DCP, color
English, Italian, German with Turkish subtitles 

Loosely inspired by Shakespeare’s Henry IV, this vibrant road movie follows the intersecting paths of Mike, a narcoleptic young man living on the streets of Portland, and Scott, the privileged son of the city’s mayor. While Mike is on a quest to find the mother he hasn’t seen in years, Scott is intent on distancing himself from his family and social class. Their journey, which stretches from America to the coasts of Italy, evolves into a complex relationship shaped by friendship, desire, and the search for belonging.

My Own Private Idaho offers a powerful narrative on queer masculinity, class disparity, and the longing for connection—told through Gus Van Sant’s poetic style and a structure that drifts between time, dreams, and memories. Marked by River Phoenix’s unforgettable performance, the film stands as one of the most poignant and original works of 1990s independent cinema.

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My Own Private Idaho

My Own Private Idaho

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