Watch Regarding Henry

Regarding Henry is a 1991 drama film directed by Mike Nichols and stars Harrison Ford, Annette Bening, and Michael Haley. The movie tells the story of a successful, fast-paced Manhattan lawyer named Henry Turner (played by Ford) who lives a life of luxury and privilege but is simultaneously disconnected from his sense of self and his family. He spends long hours at work, neglecting his wife (Bening) and young daughter, and cheats on his wife with a colleague.

One evening, Henry is shot in the head during a robbery at a convenience store and suffers a traumatic brain injury. He is rushed to the hospital and undergoes extensive surgery to save his life, but is left with significant damage to his brain. The rest of the movie focuses on his recovery and the profound impact that his injury has on his relationships and his sense of identity.

The initial aftermath of the shooting is depicted in a series of jarring and fragmented scenes, with frequent jump cuts and glimpses of Henry's fragmented and broken consciousness. As he slowly begins to recover, it becomes clear that his cognitive abilities have been severely impacted. He struggles to communicate, has trouble remembering basic information, and is prone to sudden outbursts of anger and frustration.

Henry's eventual return home becomes the center of the movie's emotional tension. He is unable to recognize his wife or daughter, and even his home feels strange and unfamiliar. He is forced to confront the reality of his shortcomings as a father and husband and to build a new relationship with his family from scratch. Bening's character, Sarah, takes on the role of caregiver and is a source of unwavering support, even as she struggles with her own feelings of hurt and betrayal.

Slowly but surely, Henry begins to reclaim some of his cognitive and emotional functioning, renewing his relationships with his wife and daughter in a series of poignant and tender moments. He begins to re-discover his own sense of identity and to see his previous life with a new perspective. As he begins to reconstruct his life, Henry also grapples with his new status as a person with a disability, encountering stigma and obstacles in a number of settings.

The movie is driven by Harrison Ford's remarkable performance as Henry, who transforms from a self-absorbed and ruthless lawyer to a humble, compassionate, and deeply self-aware man. Bening is equally excellent as Sarah, exuding warmth and resilience in the face of extreme challenges. The actors bring an intimacy and depth of feeling to the movie that elevates it beyond a simple medical drama and into a nuanced exploration of the human experience.

Overall, Regarding Henry is a powerful and masterfully crafted movie that explores themes of identity, family, and disability with a rare depth of sensitivity and nuance. As Henry slowly rebuilds his life, the movie invites viewers to reflect on their own relationships, priorities, and sense of self. It is a poignant and memorable movie that lingers long after the credits roll.

Regarding Henry is a 1991 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 47.