The English Patient is a 1996 epic romantic war drama film. The film was directed by Anthony Minghella, who also wrote the script. The film is based on the 1992 novel of the same name. The main cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, and Kristin Scott Thomas.
Plot
The story revolves around a badly burned man, Laszlo de Almasy (played by Ralph Fiennes), who is cared for by a nurse, Hana (played by Juliette Binoche), in an Italian monastery near the end of World War II. The film delves into themes of memory, loss, and desire, as it searches for answers that will answer nothing.
Full Cast
- Ralph Fiennes as Almásy
- Juliette Binoche as Hana
- Willem Dafoe as Caravaggio
- Kristin Scott Thomas as Katharine Clifton
- Naveen Andrews as Kip
- Colin Firth as Geoffrey Clifton
- Julian Wadham as Madox
- Jürgen Prochnow as Major Muller
- Kevin Whately as Hardy
- Clive Merrison as Fenelon-Barnes
- Nino Castelnuovo as D'Agostino
- Hichem Rostom as Fouad
- Peter Rühring as Bermann
- Torri Higginson as Mary
- Liisa Repo-Martell in an unspecified role).
Director: Anthony Minghella
Writer: Michael Ondaatje, Anthony Minghella
Box Office Gross: $231,976,425
Distributor: Miramax Films
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 6, 1996
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Reception and Awards
The English Patient explores several themes, including love, loss, memory, identity, and the destructive power of war. The film delves into the complexities of human relationships and the lasting impact of personal choices.
The English Patient received glowing reviews and won nine Academy Awards, including the award for Best Picture. Despite its success, some believe that the film has been somewhat forgotten over time and deserves a revisit
Settings
The film is set in various locations, including an Italian monastery and the deserts of North Africa. These settings play a crucial role in the narrative, providing a backdrop for the unfolding drama and romance.
Fun Fact
A fun fact about The English Patient is that despite its title, the main character, Almásy, is not English but Hungarian.
Visual Styles & Techniques
The English Patient is known for its stunning cinematography. The film uses a variety of visual techniques to convey its narrative, including flashbacks and non-linear storytelling. The use of color and lighting also plays a significant role in setting the mood and tone of the film.
Trivia
One piece of trivia about The English Patient is that it was the first film to win the Best Editing Oscar for a digitally edited film. This marked a significant milestone in the transition from traditional film editing techniques to digital editing.