Barfly

Set in gritty Los Angeles, the film unfolds amid cheap drinks, late-night spats, and a cramped urban living space. The Golden Horn is the local bar where Henry drinks with other alcoholics and clashes with Eddie. The Kenmore nearby serves as another late-night scene, while Henry’s rundown apartment illustrates the city’s rough edges.

🥃 Addiction

Alcohol dominates Henry’s days and decisions, driving him toward fights, improvised meals, and reckless choices. The bar, the drink, and the appetite for oblivion shape his interactions and friendships. The film portrays addiction as a repetitive cycle that isolates him from stability while offering a dangerous sense of belonging.

💼 Class & Aspiration

Henry is offered money by a wealthy publisher, making wealth seem like a path to security. He is acutely aware of class differences, describing Tully’s world as a “caged” life with golden bars. The story pits artistic independence against material comfort, forcing Henry to decide what kind of life—if any—he wants.

💔 Love & Loneliness

Wanda’s volatile relationship with Henry exposes the loneliness that fuels their bond and the mutual need for validation. Their dynamic swings between tenderness and abuse, highlighting how love can exist amid mistrust and self-destruction. The duo’s exchanges reveal how isolation can drive people to cling to unhealthy partnerships.