“The English Patient” was released in 1996, and won an astonishing 9 academy awards, believe me, you’ll know why once you have seen it.
The opening scenes are highly visual; a plane silhouetted against endless golden sand dunes carrying two passengers; a man and a woman. ... Read review
Anthony Minghella's Oscar-winning realization of Michael Ondaatje's intricate romance ... more
deservedly earned comparisons to David Lean's sweeping screen epics derived from strong literary sources. Like Lean, Minghella sought an equally thoughtful, yet ravishing musical counterpart that fleshes out a sympathetic orchestral score with allusions to the story's cultural milieu. The equation begins with Gabriel Yared's tender, brooding symphonic score, which mingles the film's poles of fate and passion with subtlety and restraint, then adds the exotic, mesmerizing voice of Marta Sebestyen (best known for her work with Muzsikas, the brilliant Hungarian folk revivalists, who also appear here), whose presence provides a literate clue to the title character's true identity. The film's '40s time-frame gains resonance and dramatic irony by pop songs from that era, including Benny Goodman swing classics and two versions of Irving Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek" (by Fred Astaire and Ella Fitzgerald, respectively). Add a pivotal Bach cue and this is a film package that works even if you don't know the film--and that much more powerfully if you do. --Sam Sutherland
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The English Patient A Retreat Rupert Beart What Else Do You Love? Why Picton? Cheek ... more
To Cheek-Fred Astaire Kip's Lights Hana's Curse I'll Always Go Back To That Church Black Nights Swoon I'll Catch You Am I K. In Your Book? Let Me Come In! Wang Wang Blues-Benny Goodman Convento Di Sant'Anna Herodotus Muzsikas-Feat. Marta Sebestyen Szerelem Szerelem Ask Your Saint Who He's Killed One O'Clock Jump-Benny Goodman I'll Be Back Let Me Tell You About Winds Read Me To Sleep Cave Of swimmers Where Or When-Shepheard's Hotel Jazz Orchestra Aria-Julie Steinberg (From The Goldberg Variations) Cheek To Cheek-Ella Fitzgerald As Far As Florence En Csak Azt Csodalom (Lullaby For Katharine)
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Haunting and harrowing, as beautiful as it is disturbing, The English Patient tells the ... more
story of the entanglement of four damaged lives in an Italian monastery as the second world war ends. The exhausted nurse, Hana; the maimed thief, Caravaggio; the wary sapper, Kip: each is haunted by the riddle of the English patient, the nameless, burn victim who lies in an upstairs room and whose memories of passion, betrayal and rescue illuminate this book like flashes of sheet lightning. In lyrical prose informed by a poetic consciousness, Michael Ondaatje weaves these characters together, pulls them tight, then unravels the threads with unsettling acumen. A book that binds readers of great literature, The English Patient secured the Booker Prize for author Ondaatje. The poet and novelist has also written In the Skin of a Lion, Coming Through Slaughter and The Collected Works of Billy the Kid; two collections of poems, The Cinnamon Peeler and There's a Trick with a Knife I'm Learning to Do; and a memoir, Running in the Family.
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Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Pat O'Connor - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over, 15 years and over - Starring: Geraldine O'Rawe, Colin Firth, Saffron Burrows, Minnie Driver, Chris O'Donnell
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Drama - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Shelagh Fraser, Barbara Flynn, Keith Drinkel, Felicity Kendal, Pam Ferris, Colin Douglas
Advantages: Timeless Love story, a classic Disadvantages: None
...seen it.
The opening scenes are highly visual; a plane silhouetted against endless golden sand dunes carrying two passengers; a man and a woman. The plane is then abruptly shot to the ground by Germans and it is at this point that you first acquaint yourself with the film’s namesake “The English Patient”. Horrifically burnt and unable to remember much at all, he is given that name, as he is unknown.
... ...1945 Italy, a case of the ugly burnt remains of a man and the handsome one he once was, which adds a unique quality to the film and grasps your intrigue even more as the Patient’s story begins to unfold.
The Patient, Count Laszlo de Almasy - (Ralph Fiennes), ends up in the loving care of Hana - (Juliette Binoche), a Canadian nurse dedicated to helping the suffering and injured casualties of the war.
“The English Patient” was released in 1996, and won an astonishing 9 academy awards, believe me, you’ll know why once you have seen it.
The opening scenes are highly visual; a plane silhouetted against endless golden sand dunes carrying two passengers; a man and a woman. The plane is then abruptly shot to the ground by Germans and it is at this point that you first acquaint yourself with the film’s namesake “The English Patient”. Horrifically burnt and unable to remember much at all, he is given that name, as he is unknown.
The film swings back and forth from the late 1930’s to 1945 Italy, a case of the ugly burnt remains of a man and the handsome one he once was, which adds a unique quality to the film and grasps your intrigue even more as the Patient’s story begins to unfold.
The Patient, Count Laszlo de Almasy - (Ralph Fiennes), ends up in the loving care of Hana - (Juliette Binoche), a Canadian nurse dedicated to helping the suffering and injured casualties of the war.
Hana is almost childlike, Binoche portraying her with an almost pure innocence, naive and always unlucky, as everyone she comes to be close to or loves end up dying, and her character is heart-warming and appealing, and it is easy to begin to empathise with her, to admire her strength and to pray she finds the happiness she rightly deserves.
Hana nurses her patient in an abandoned house in Italy, tending to his every need, reading to him from his own book containing memories of the man that was. Morphine administered to alleviate his pain causes him to start having visions and flashbacks triggered by sounds and dreams…
Fiennes portrays the patient admirably, his face twisted by pain, not just the physical pain of his horrific burns, but also the mental anguish of the past that gradually seeping back bit by bit to haunt him.
The constant switching of the past and the present theme that run throughout the film lends a certain balance to the two very different women that cross Almasy’s path, their lives bearing no resemblance to each other in any way but this harsh comparison adds to the emotion and the overall appeal of the film.
Almasy’s flashbacks introduce female number 2, Katharine Clifton- (Kristin Scott Thomas), since she and her husband are the investors in the project Almasy is involved in at the time, mapping out the African deserts.
Of course they embark on a passionate affair. with plenty of romantic encounters to die for, however even though there are scenes of nudity and sex, none of it is at all distasteful, just two people very much in love, in fact they appear to sizzle so much on film that you can almost feel the passion between them.
Katherine is far more glamorous than Hana, with money and an expensive lifestyle, hotels, cocktails and fancy clothes as opposed to poor Hana’s home grown food from the orchard and her seemingly one dress. She is beautiful by all accounts, but she doesn’t display the same natural beauty that Binoche does.
Various other characters cross the path of Hana and her patient, including the very disreputable David Caravaggio(Willem Dafoe), a thief who is missing both his thumbs, has a morphine addiction and a bears a severe grudge. Without wishing to divulge anything else, I will just say that he and the Patient go back a long way, plus the Patient is not all he seems to be at first....
Other appearances include Auf Wiedersehen’s very own Kevin Whately, who portrays Hardy, a soldier, and he even gets quite a moving role.
This film outshines many others due to the complexity of its characters, with excellent casting. Fiennes, as the handsome pre-burnt Almasy, starts off as an almost un-likeable, self-centred, arrogant and somewhat aloof character, however you can almost detect the change, once his guard is dropped as he falls hopelessly in love with Katherine. Even as he reminisces, you can still see the love, his burnt face apart from his eyes incapable of showing any emotion: His eyes say it all.
Katherine ( Kristen Scott Thomas).
Her gradual seductive entrance into Almasy’s affections teases your interest, with emotions running high as he finally succumbs to her, which sets the pulse racing amid a frenzy of remarkably realistic and sensual scenes.
Hana ( Juliette Binoche).
Juliette Binoche won an Oscar for her portrayal of Hana, which is demonstrated in her patience, devotion and her inner love radiating from Binoche’s character, this being a role that not every actress could play, although Binoche possesses all the necessary qualities required to give a convincing performance.
The excellent acting is supplemented by the outstanding cinematography featuring desert dunes, sunsets and mountains, which help to add a certain degree of warmth to the film.
In conclusion I would recommend this film to anyone who wants to watch an unfolding romance with a difference, which is almost guaranteed to bring tears to the eyes. – yes, tissues are recommended for this one! This is a classic film, and one that will leave you speechless...In Memory Love Lives Forever......
Notes: This film is based on the novel by Michael Ondaatje Running time of video : Approx 155 minutes Certificate : 15
Advantages: star studded cast and an excellent story line Disadvantages: time and full attention required
...effort to stick it in the VCR, until an ill day off school, in which I learned that I owned one of the most tremendous film of love and betrayal ever made.
It is set in the North African desert during the Second World War. Count Almasy is a desert explorer on an expedition like many others, or so he thought. That is until Geoffrey Clifton and his beautiful wife, Katherine join him on a trip that would change his life forever. Almasy is unable to ... ...and the two embark in a passionate affair. Katherine finds herself torn between devoted husband and her exhilarating lover. Katherine and Almasy are forced to suffer the torment of suppressing their love for one another whilst facing the perils of a World War.
As a huge fan of classic British actors, Ralph Fiennes, Kristen Scott Thomas and Colin Firth did not fail in impressing me with their outstanding and memorable performances. Ralph plays Count ...
spobz 19.02.2003 (20.04.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The English Patient (DVD)
Advantages: Moving, excellent story, wonderful acting and scenery Disadvantages: may be too long for some
...after writing a review on the film Atonement as I thoroughly enjoyed that film. I did buy this several months ago but never got around to watching it as the length was putting me off. As I had the house to myself last night I decided I would take the plunge and give it a go and I am so pleased that I did. Ralph Fiennes plays the role of a badly burnt pilot who is rescued by the English and given a hospital bed. He has no memory of who he is and how ... ...the task of looking after him. As he and others are being moved to a safer place due to the war one of Hana’s friends is killed by a bomb so Hana makes the decision that she is going to stay in this place and make a home in the deserted house which she has seen. She takes the unknown man with her to make is last few days as comfy as possible for him.
As Hana and her patient are settling into the house he starts to have memories of his life and soon ...
sewbizzie 16.11.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The English Patient (DVD)
Advantages: Great performances, script, music and beautifully shot Disadvantages: Maybe a bit on the long side for some
...Willem Dafoe is set at the end of the Second World War where Count Almasy (Fiennes) is picked up by African tribes people after being shot down in an aircraft. He is then put into the care of the Allies and is put in the care of a Canadian nurse (Binnoche). They both stay in an old abandoned church, while Almasy lives out his few remaining days remembering the all too murky past.
Count Almasy is a Hungarian and member of the International Cartographers ... ...deserts of Africa just before the outbreak of WWII. Along comes Mr. And Mrs. Clifton – investors of the expedition and all round Mr. And Mrs. Britain. All too soon chemistry between Almasy and Katharine Clifton (Scott Thomas) begins to ignite and the unavoidable follows. While back in the present time, there is new love dawning for our nurse by Almasy’s bedside.
It is very hard to give a rough outline as the film is so well intertwined ...
Kozinski 12.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The English Patient (DVD)
...afraid!
Someone gave me the video one Christmas and relunctantly I sat down to watch it and was totally surprised! The film has now become my all-time favourite flick!
The opening scene has the voice of Hungarian folk singer Marta Sebestyn
singing about love as a paintbrush paints an image from the 'Cave Of
Swimmers'. The image of the swimmer gradually turns into a shadow folding
over sand dunes in Africa and then finally into the shadow of ... ...and set in 30s/40s Africa/Italy, the film stars Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Willem Dafoe, Colin Firth and Juliette Binoche.
I love this film because I can relate to so much of it. If you've ever loved and lost - and more importantly, when you lost, it was like a door shut in your life - then you might appreciate this film.
The dialogue is absolutely superb from beginning to end! The way the Count
instructs Kip to read Kipling - "imagine ...
Fiennes 18.01.2001 (17.01.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The English Patient (DVD)
Advantages: none Disadvantages: it's a waste of good film
...got was eternal tedium. The story was thin drivel, the 'acting' was executed by people determined to give it their very least effort and the time just went on and on and on.
It won Oscars, it was lauded by the critics - were they on drugs? How much were they paid? Maybe I was missing the point and at the end it would become clear why everyone had raved about it so much. So I wasted an entire afternoon. It didn't get better, if anything, it got worse, ...
wildchild 25.07.2000
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Advantages: Touching love story, beautiful desert scenery, well acted Disadvantages: Very sad, jumps around a bit, perhaps a thinking persons film
Introduction
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If you enjoy a good heart breaking love story then look no further than The EnglishPatient.
I bought the EnglishPatient on DVD at Sainsbury's a few weeks ago. I had just finished the book and thought I'd quite like to see what the film was like. I purchased it in a 3 for £30 deal.
The book I read because it's on my Booker Prize winners list that I'm slowly working my way through this year. I have to be honest, although I liked the idea of it, I didn't enjoy it very much and had to force myself to finish it.
Having now watched the film I would like to re-read the book just to see how the director Anthony Minghella managed to create such a masterpiece from the same story I found dull on the page.
Overview of the story
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If you have never heard of The EnglishPatient ...
Best Actress In A Supporting Role 1996 (Juliette Binoche)
OSCAR
Best Director 1996 (Anthony Minghella)
Professional reviews
Review
"...Minghella proves that a movie love story can be smart, principled and provoking, and still sweep you away..." (Rolling Stone, p.142, 28/11/1996)
"...Respectable, intelligent....With its exotic, tapestry-like backgrounds, this is a picture of resplendently textured, sensuous surfaces..." (Variety, 11/11/1996)
DVD Description
THE ENGLISH PATIENT is an epic, sweeping adaptation of Michael Ondaatje's richly layered, WWII-era novel chronicling two periods in the life of European explorer Count Laszlo Almasy, whose torrid affair with a colleague's wife is countered by the beginning of the war, allegations of Nazi sympathies, and disfiguring injuries. The patient's stay at the ruins of an Italian monastery under the care of an emotionally injured French-Canadian nurse serves as a framing device for his intriguing story.
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