“
My Own Private Idaho
” is a film that is reflexive back on the original author of the story, William Shakespeare. As one might know, or notice when watching the film, the film’s dialogue seems to be inspired by some kind of old-time poetry.
Gus Van Sant
loosely based “My Own Private Idaho” on one of the two plots of Shakespeare’s play, Henry IV, in which Henry IV’s son, Prince Harry’s strained relationship with his father leads him to doing rebellious things, ignoring his responsibilities until he gets the money that he will inherit. In “My Own Private Idaho,” this can be seen clearly in the character of Scott Favor. But ironically enough, Mike Waters is the main protagonist of the story.
