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Adapted from Michael Ondaatje's novel by writer-director Anthony Minghella, The English Patient unspools the story of Laszlo Almasy (Ralph Fiennes), a Hungarian mapmaker recovering, in an abandoned monastery in Italy, from a near-fatal plane crash. Because he is barely able to speak, his nurse and caretaker, Hana (Juliette Binoche), reassembles his life story from his random writings and what remains of his rapidly deteriorating memory. This unusual narrative assured that The English Patient would be a most unconventional World War II film, one without many of the customary foot soldiers or storm troopers. The book evokes the trackless dunes of the Sahara Desert and the elegantly rustic retreats of North Africa, escaping into the locales of Almasy's memories. And in a brilliant achievement of cinematic art, Minghella manages to distill the book's passion and pour it forth in a fluid narrative. Almasy's mysterious past and, most compellingly, his passionate love affair with a married Englishwoman (Kristin Scott Thomas), drive the film's action -- while the hopeful subplot of Hana's love affair with a handsome Sikh anchors the film in the nurse's reality. Breathtakingly romantic, The English Patient earned nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Score. Bruce Kluger

All Movie Guide

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

Product Details

• UPC: 786936239065
• Source: MIRAMAX
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Theatre Wide-Screen (1.85.1)
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Language: English
• Subtitles: Français, Español
• Time: 2:42:00
• Sales Rank: 8,727

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