The central character, the Hungarian Count Laszlo Almasy, is splendidly played by Ralph Fiennes. Alas, he wears so much makeup by the end of the film that you can't see much facial expression. [Once Whoopi Goldberg quipped in "Soapdish": "Actors hate to play coma patients, it limits their range".]

Fiennes falls in love with a married woman, Katharine Clifton, played by Kristin Scott Thomas. The tragic love story is played out against the backdrop of World War II intrigue. Fiennes is later befriended by an Allied nurse named Hana played by Juliette Binoche. She in turn has a romance of her own to think about with a married Brit-Indian officer whose dangerous job is to deactivate unexploded bombs.

There is also a spy story thrown into the mix, as if the above isn't busy enough. A spy, Caravaggio, played by Willem Dafoe, shows up to question Fiennes and perhaps to seek revenge. Although the relationship between the two men is interesting, it seems to me that the story tries to cover too much ground. More of a traditional narrative and flashback method with a tighter script would have helped make a more focused movie.

All of the acting is incredible, but none is on par with Fiennes. His intensity is almost that of a James Wood, and yet he hardly speaks. Katherine complains to the Count that, "You speak so many bloody languages, and you never want to talk." My favorite in the film is Kristin Scott Thomas who brings intelligence and a subtle sensuality to her role.

The story takes place simultaneously in North Africa at the start of World War II and in Italy as the war is drawing to a close. The characters in these stories are linked only by a man known merely as "The English Patient."

After a plane crash in North Africa and a rescue by local tribesmen, a horribly burnt man is sent to Italy where he is taken under the wing of a Canadian nurse named Hana (Juliette Binoche). "My organs are packing up. I'm a bit of toast," he warns Hana. She takes The English Patient from the ambulance convoy to an abandoned monastery where she spends time reading to him and caring for him.

When a thief who works for the army, Caravaggio (Willem Dafoe), shows up asking for shelter, The English Patient explains to him that Hana's problem is she thinks she is a jinx. "I think anybody she loves starts to die on her."

Flash back to North Africa: Katharine is arriving. Her husband Geoffrey (Colin Firth) and other members of the Royal Geographical Society are there to produce aerial maps for the British Air Force. The tuxedoed geographers view this as a thrilling romp. "Welcome to the International Sand Club," says Geoffrey to his wife upon her arrival. With them is Count Laszlo Almasy, and Katharine greets him with the condescending quip, "I wanted to meet the man who could write such a long paper with so few adjectives."

Soon the Count and Katharine are dancing, and with a single, intense stare he seduces her on the dance floor. She reciprocates in an extremely erotic scene where they stay as far apart as teenagers at a church dance. The mark of great actors is what they can do with only their eyes. By that token, Fiennes and Thomas are two of the best. Both of them are playing against the type with whom you associate them. Fiennes is far from a Nazi, and Thomas isn't playing her usual wallflower role. Both are convincing as mysterious and sensuous romantics and adulterers.

Director Anthony Minghella crafted a masterpiece with THE ENGLISH PATIENT. The film runs 2:42 which is just the right length. Very few films need to be longer than two hours, but this one does. It is an epic.


Love it, love it, love it!   January 10, 2005
 12 out of 12 found this review helpful

I expected not to enjoy this film and was surprised to find that I love it. Having read the book first is usually a set up for a fall as the characters are not how you imagined them and it only serves to irritate. However, a fantastic cast ensures that this is not the case and my personal vote goes to Juliette Binoche who is wonderful.

It is one of these fims which begins with the ending and then puts the story together piece by piece, a format I am very taken by. It is the story of an adulterous relationship that ends in disaster. I am entirely convinced by Fiennes as Count Almazy and Scott-Thomas as Katharine Clifton but prefer the touching nursing scenes with Binoche.

My favourite bit is the little candles and the church largely due to the music. It puts a huge smile on my face and brings a tear to my eye - yes, I know it's completely unrealistic but I just don't care and admit to occasionally watching that scene on its own when I am fed up with the reality of relationships.

This is escapism at its best and I can't recommend it stongly enough. Its perfect for those who usually find romantic movies too schmaltzy and pathetic.


Love has so many definitions   November 28, 2004
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

This film is so moving. I have lost count of the many times I have watched it. The clear message is that love is everywhere and shows itself in so many different ways and that it can also be so destructive. It's the kind of film that you watch when you need a little inspiration about your own life. You can really identify with the characters as they are all so different and each interaction shows a different take on love. This film is brilliantly cast and you completely lose yourself in the story. Genius is the only way to describe it.


A great film, but read the book to understand it more fully!   April 12, 2004
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

The English Patient is an amazing book and incredibly complex, I read it before seeing the film and given that the book is almost unfilmable as there is so much imagery and obscurity and sudden movement between characters, the film makers have done an excellent job to say the least!!!!

The film is amazing, one of my all time favourites, with the beautiful landscapes, passionate story and strong characters. Ralph Fiennes is great as horribly burned English Patient and gives a great performance as a mysterious and often silent character. I also like Kristen Scott Thomas and Willem Dafoe. Juliette Binoche and Naveen Andrews, parts as Hana and Kip, didn't get as much coverage as they should have done and you need to read the book to fill in the gaps in the film's plot and characterisation.

Overall a great epic film, but the book needs to be read, to fill in the gaps as the film hasn't really got the time to explore all the themes and characters in it.


A Classic Film   January 22, 2004
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This film is one of romance combined with a good story line which even leaves the blokes thinking they enjoyed it.
Excellent screeen adaptation.