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Perspective: Philip Kaufman

by Amanda Millner-Fairbanks
March/April 2008

When I visited Henry Miller in his late eighties, I remember him going upstairs with two Asian women. God knows what went on up there, but he had that little glow in his eye."

Philip Kaufman has directed films such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Henry & June, and Quills. Now 71, Kaufman is developing Hemingway, a movie about the writer. Amanda Millner-Fairbanks reports on the secrets of his success.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known 50 years ago?
You’re going to be unemployed. Don’t get defeated.

Why make movies?
A life totally absorbed with the creative process.

The state of American filmmaking?
It’s doing well right now, but like Detroit, it’s always on the verge of collapsing.

Advice for the young?
Develop your passion. Don’t get into filmmaking just because it can be lucrative. There are way too many tragic compromises because people were only looking for financial rewards. Read as much as you can—novels, literature. Poetry doesn’t hurt.

Have you succeeded?
Success is freedom from striving. I have enough money. I can buy whatever book I want and eat in all the great San Francisco restaurants.

What have you learned about sex?
You never learn everything about sex. The question is, how do you use sex to constantly rediscover passion? When I visited Henry Miller in his late eighties, I remember him going upstairs with two Asian women. God knows what went on up there, but he had that little glow in his eye. That’s pretty neat.