Three Decades Later, This Epic Romance Remains the Definitive Film About War & Love
The movie shows how war and love intertwine, simultaneously destroying and saving.
In 1996, The English Patient, an epic romantic drama directed by Anthony Minghella and based on Michael Ondaatje's Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name, was released.
The movie won nine Academy Awards and two Golden Globes, and remains one of the most moving and visually stunning war and love stories ever told.
What Is 'The English Patient' About?
During the final days of World War II, a plane carrying two passengers was shot down over the Sahara Desert. The local inhabitants managed to save the pilot's life, but his female companion perished. The man's body is covered in scars and burns, and he can't remember his own name.
A young nurse named Hana, who has recently lost her lover, begins to care for him. Interacting with her helps the man gradually recall his past.
He recounts his life story: he is Almásy, the explorer who mapped Africa in the late 1930s. An affair with a married woman named Katharine turned his life upside down and ended tragically.
'The English Patient' Is an Epic With a Brilliant Cast, Stunning Visuals, and a Poignant Story
The ochre sands of the Sahara, Katharine's honey-colored hair, and the sunlight flooding the frame give the impression of looking at a painting. John Seale's cinematography deserves special mention – each shot is a work of art, filled with light and shadow.
The cast also merits the highest praise. Ralph Fiennes portrays a man who evokes both sympathy and revulsion, Kristin Scott Thomas embodies passion and tragedy as Katharine, and Juliette Binoche, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, brings necessary humanity to the film.
Interestingly, Demi Moore and Nicole Kidman were both considered for the role of Katharine, but Minghella turned them both down, promising Kidman a just as good role in Cold Mountain.
The English Patient reveals how war destroys not only bodies, but also souls – the romance between Almásy and Katharine becomes a metaphor for all that war takes from people.
Although critics faulted the two-hour film for being slow-paced, it's precisely this unhurried rhythm that allows viewers to fully experience every emotion. Minghella admitted that he couldn't imagine which scenes from the novel he would be willing to sacrifice.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The English Patient'?
-
The English Patient has 86% from critics and 83% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
-
On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.4/10.
-
On Letterboxd, The English Patient scored 3.6/5.0.
Where to Watch 'The English Patient'?
The English Patient is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.
