The English Patient reviews (1996)

The English Patient

1996

Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5

from 22,538 members

Available on LOVEFiLM Instant for 11 more days

Anthony Minghella wrote and directed this award-winning adaptation of Michael Ondaatje's novel about a doomed and tragic romance set against the backdrop of World War II. In a field hospital in Italy, Hana (Juliette Binoche), a nurse from Canada, is caring for a pilot who was horribly burned in a plane wreck; he has no identification and cannot remember his name, so he's known simply as the English Patient, thanks to his accent. When the hospital is forced to evacuate, Hana determines en route that the patient shouldn't be moved far due to his fragile condition, so the two are left in a monastery to be picked up later. In time, Hana begins to piece together the patient's story from the shards of his memories; he's actually Count Laszlo Almasy (Ralph Fiennes), of Hungarian nobility and an explorer working with a group mapping uncharted territory in North Africa. An Englishman, Geoffrey Clifton (Colin Firth), soon joins Almasy's team; travelling with him is his lovely and spirited wife, Katherine (Kristin Scott Thomas). Katherine and Laszlo soon fall in love, which leads Laszlo to betray his friend, his country and all that is dear to him. Meanwhile, Hana and the Patient are joined by Kip (Naveen Andrews), a Sikh with a gift for defusing mines, and Caravaggio (Willem Dafoe), an intelligence agent who knows some of Laszlo's most shameful secrets. The English Patient won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress (Juliette Binoche).~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The English Patient details

Formats:	15 DVD, Blu-ray, LOVEFiLM Instant
Starring:	Torri Higginso, Nino Castelnu /, /, / Ralph Fiennes
Director:	Anthony Minghella
Genres:	Drama - Period, Romantic, Historical, Romance
Studio:	WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Collections:	Anthony Minghella Collection, Award Nominees & Winners, Back to the 90s, Best Picture Oscar Winners, Booker Prize Adaptations, Date with Destiny, Decades: 90s, Haven't Seen That in Ages!

Title	Runtime	Certificate
The English Patient	2hrs 35 mins	15

LOVEFiLM Instant Information

Run time:	2 hours 35 minutes
Rental release:	To be confirmed

Name	Discs
The English Patient	15 Feature
The English Patient - Bonus Features	15 Bonus

DVD Information

Run time:	2 hours 35 minutes
Rental release:	08 Jan 2001
Main languages:	English
Dubbed:	French
Subtitles:	French
Hearing impaired subtitles:	English

Name	Discs
The English Patient	15 Feature

Blu-ray Information

Run time:	2 hours 35 minutes
Rental release:	19 Sep 2011
Main languages:	English

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Most helpful review The English Patient

Deserves The Awards It Received

By McClennan (424 reviews) from St Helens , 18 Oct 2004

[Highly rated reviewer]

Very often I see reviews of this film that state that this film didn't deserve to win as many Oscars as it did but it is far and away the best of 1996.

The portrayal of love within the film is such a draw that even with the moral questions that arise from it you can't help but follow the story and share the same emotions as the characters.

Beautifully shot with great performances, an overlooked classic.
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Is it my fault?

By a customer , 02 May 2013

There is impressive direction and photography and, I think, it was a very ambitious and challenging project to undertake. But I found that the characters inspired neither empathy nor anger (which may be a weakness in me rather than the film!!) so overall I found it rather dull.
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be patient with this classic film

By a customer , 03 Mar 2013

very good film, will not disappoint, a pure classic film that most will love, true love story, enough words said
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beautiful film

By pols (7 reviews) , 08 Feb 2013

beautiful to watch, beautiful to read, beautiful to hear. a film that deserves all the awards and more ... .... .... .... .... .....
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Loved it

By Csglb (1 review) , 05 Feb 2013

I really enjoyed the film. It was beautifully filmed and the acting was first class. I notice lots of people mentioning Lawrence of Arabia etc. and it did remind me of a David Lean film. A proper soppy weepy masterpiece
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WEARY AND DREARY

By a customer , 20 Nov 2012

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS Show review anywayHide

IS A FILM ENTERTAINMENT OR ART ?

CERTAINLY A FILM SHOULD HAVE THE

WATCHER FEEL AN EMPATHY WITH THE

CHARACTERS.

THIS IS AN ARTY FILM FOR INSOMNIACS.

IT IS BORING TO THE NTH DEGREE AND

HOW IT EVEN GOT NOMINATED FOR AN

OSCAR IS BEYOND ME . I WATCH 1000

FILMS A YEAR , THIS FILM IS UTTERLY

AWFUL . FROM AN ACCLAIMED BOOK,

ALL THE ARTSY WORLD APPROVES , BUT

AS A FILM TO ENTERTAIN , IT IS A WASTE

OF CELLULOID .
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