In his early days, filmmaker Henry Jaglom was associated with Orson Welles, to whom he later dedicated a book (My Lunches with Orson). The latter played the role of a magician in Jaglom’s first feature film produced by BBS. Jaglom then developed his own approach, reminiscent of the French New Wave and its most playful vein (Rohmer, Rivette). Since his passing at the end of 2025, opportunities to see his entirely independent films have become rare.
Helen invites several friends to her home to celebrate her 40th birthday. Martine, her roommate, takes advantage of the occasion to film and interview the women gathered there about their relationship with food. A magnificent group of actresses and characters who powerfully convey their intimate experiences.
Henry Jaglom
Henry Jaglom was an American independent film director, screenwriter and actor born in London. He trained with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio in New York, where he acted, wrote and directed off-Broadway theater and cabaret before settling in Hollywood in the late 1960s to be featured in TV series and films. He began his filmmaking career working with Jack Nicholson on the editing of Dennis Hopper's Easy Rider (1969). Jaglom's transition from acting to directing was largely influenced by his experience watching Federico Fellini's film 8½. He made his debut with A Safe Place in 1971, before exploring the psychological cost on America of the Vietnam War with Tracks in 1976, and having his first commercial success with Sitting Ducks in 1980. He also explored intimate human stories and women's lives through his “Women's Trilogy” that includes Eating (1990), Babyfever (1994), and Going Shopping (2005). In his work, Jaglom championed personal storytelling, improvisational cinema, and women’s voices. He often worked without scripts or strict rehearsals, incorporating his personal experiences into his films.
