IMDb > The English Patient (1996)
The English Patient
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The English Patient (1996) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   51,887 votes
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Down 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Michael Ondaatje (novel)
Anthony Minghella (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The English Patient on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
15 November 1996 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
In love, there are no boundaries. more
Plot:
At the close of WWII, a young nurse tends to a badly-burned plane crash victim. His past is shown in flashbacks, revealing an involvement in a fateful love affair. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won 9 Oscars. Another 41 wins & 37 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(154 articles)
Colin Firth: a man of sense and sensibility
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 6 February 2010, 4:06 PM, PST)

Weekly Poll Results: Favourite Miramax Film
 (From FilmJunk. 4 February 2010, 9:32 AM, PST)

User Reviews:
A reader's movie. more (409 total)

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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for sexuality, some violence and language.
Runtime:
162 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Early into the production, Anthony Minghella fell over and broke his ankle. Therefore for much of the shoot he was either in plaster or crutches. more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Almasy is examining maps, looking for a back way into Cairo and refers to "Bell's maps." He speaks of not trusting "his" maps. Gertrude Bell was a woman. more
Quotes:
Katharine Clifton: [dancing] Why did you follow me yesterday?
Almásy: I'm sorry, what?
Katharine Clifton: After the market, you followed me to the hotel.
Almásy: I was concerned. A woman in that part of Cairo, a European woman, I felt obliged to.
Katharine Clifton: [amused] You felt obliged to?
Almásy: As the wife of one of our party.
Katharine Clifton: So why follow me? Escort me, by all means, but following me is predatory, isn't it?
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Yossi & Jagger (2002) more
Soundtrack:
It's Only a Paper Moon more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
How did Geoffrey (Katharine's husband) know she was having an affair?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
more
69 out of 103 people found the following review useful.
A reader's movie., 7 September 2003
Author: bduguay from canada

I can understand why some people think this movie is boring. I think it appeals much more to people who are used to the pacing of classic books.

I'm sure many of those who hated it are much like a co-worker of mine who said "Books? I haven't a book since I had to in high school." I checked some of the names of the people who reviled this movie and sure enough it seems many of them think Armaggedon was an "awesome" movie and Chris Farley was a "Comic genius". And that's O.K. Taste is an individual thing.

My sensibilities tell me that the english patient is a very good movie that takes effort to appreciate. Much in this movie is very subtle. It is not a vacation for the brain.(Hey, sometimes the brain NEEDS a vacation, and stupid movies provide that!) Also, it is not a cynic's movie. It's about idealism, tragedy and regret. About how people can want the best but have it all fall apart because of bad choices, and have to go on with the regret of never being able to remedy the situation. Not so much a love story as a tragic one. So many people destroyed because of the selfishness of two people couldn't(wouldn't?) control themselves.

I would ask those who thought the movie boring to watch it again when you feel able to pay full attention to what's going on in the film and how different bits of dialogue dovetail into subtle suggestions of how the characters are feeling and thinking. This movie takes an investment of time, thought and emotion. If this investment is made, I think most people who watch it will feel rewarded.

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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The English Patient (1996)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Will there ever be a movie made like this anymore?.... pari_peri
Cheating Colin Firth? shaguniitb
Did anyone else hate Katharine? Anti-Everything
Most pretentious movie ever made yoda9999
I'd rather see 'Sack Lunch' doctorc1970
Oscar nomination for Dafoe! mensur_sony
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