The English Patient (1996)

Director:

Anthony Minghella

Writers (WGA):

Michael Ondaatje (novel)
Anthony Minghella (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 November 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

In love, there are no boundaries.

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.

Plot Keywords:

Nurse | Flashback | Patient | Love | Sahara

Awards:

Won 9 Oscars. Another 47 wins & 39 nominations

Cast

Ralph Fiennes	...	Count Laszlo de Almásy
Juliette Binoche	...	Hana
Willem Dafoe	...	David Caravaggio
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Katharine Clifton
Naveen Andrews	...	Kip
Colin Firth	...	Geoffrey Clifton
Julian Wadham	...	Madox
Jürgen Prochnow	...	Major Muller
Kevin Whately	...	Sgt. Hardy
Clive Merrison	...	Fenelon-Barnes
Nino Castelnuovo	...	D'Agostino
Hichem Rostom	...	Fouad
Peter Rühring	...	Bermann
Geordie Johnson	...	Oliver
Torri Higginson	...	Mary
Liisa Repo-Martell	...	Jan
Raymond Coulthard	...	Rupert Douglas
Philip Whitchurch	...	Corporal Dade
Lee Ross	...	Spalding
Anthony Smee	...	Beach Interrogation Officer
Matthew Ferguson	...	Young Canadian Soldier
Jason Done	...	Kiss Me Soldier
Roger Morlidge	...	Sergeant - Desert Train
Simon Sherlock	...	Private - Desert Train
Sebastian Schipper	...	Interrogation Room Soldier
Fritz Eggert	...	Interrogation Room Soldier
Sonia Mankaï	...	Arab Nurse (as Sonia Mankai)
Rim Turkhi	...	Aicha (as Rim Turki)
Sebastian Rudolph	...	Officer In Square
Thoraya Sehill	...	Interpreter In Square
Sondos Belhassen	...	Woman with Baby In Square (as Sondess Belhassen)
Dominic Mafham	...	Officer - El Taj
Gregor Truter	...	Corporal - El Taj
Salah Miled	...	Bedouin Doctor
Abdellatif Hamrouni	...	Ancient Arab
Samy Azaiez	...	Kamal
Habib Chetoui	...	Al Auf
Philippa Day	...	Officer's Wife (as Phillipa Day)
Amanda Walker	...	Lady Hampton
Paul Kant	...	Sir Ronald Hampton

Directed by
Anthony Minghella

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael Ondaatje		(novel)
Anthony Minghella		(screenplay)

Produced by
Steve E. Andrews	....	associate producer (as Steve Andrews)
Scott Greenstein	....	executive producer
Alessandro von Norman	....	line producer (as Alessandro Von Normann)
Bob Weinstein	....	executive producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	executive producer
Paul Zaentz	....	associate producer
Saul Zaentz	....	producer

Original Music by
Gabriel Yared

Cinematography by
John Seale		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Walter Murch

Casting by
Michelle Guish
David Rubin

Production Design by
Stuart Craig

Art Direction by
Aurelio Crugnola

Set Decoration by
Aurelio Crugnola
Stephenie McMillan

Costume Design by
Gary Jones		(co-costume designer)
Ann Roth

Makeup Department
Mustapha Ben Chaabane	....	hair assistant: Tunisia
Mustapha Ben Chaabane	....	makeup assistant: Tunisia
Giusy Bovino	....	chief hair stylist (as Giusi Bovino)
Louise Constad	....	makeup artist: Ms. Binoche and Ms. Scott Thomas
Elisabetta De Leonardis	....	hair stylist
Giuseppe Desiato	....	makeup artist
Antonio Maltempo	....	makeup artist
Maria Rizzo	....	hair stylist: second unit
Maria Rizzo	....	makeup artist: second unit
Alessandra Sampaolo	....	makeup artist
Ferid Sfaki	....	hair assistant: Tunisia
Ferid Sfaki	....	makeup assistant: Tunisia
Fabrizio Sforza	....	makeup artist
Chris Fitzgerald	....	prosthetic painter (uncredited)

Production Management
Franco Ballati	....	unit production manager
Edie Bleiman	....	post-production supervisor
Hamid Elleuch	....	unit manager: Tunisia
Lynn Kamern	....	unit production manager
Paul Webster	....	head of production: Miramax (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve E. Andrews	....	first assistant director (as Steve Andrews)
Gianni Arduini	....	first assistant director: second unit
Meriem Beschaouch	....	assistant director: Tunisia
Andrea Girolami	....	assistant director
Moez Kamoun	....	assistant director: Tunisia (as Mouez Kamoun)
Moslah Kraiem	....	assistant director: Tunisia
Peter Markham	....	second unit director
Enrico Marrari	....	second assistant director: second unit (as Andrea Marrari)
Emma Schofield	....	second assistant director
Luigi Vallini	....	assistant director

Art Department
Mohamed Bargaoui	....	prop master: Tunisia
Romano Bellucci	....	construction manager
Brian Bishop	....	scenic artist
Doug Bishop	....	scenic artist
Jamel Bizid	....	assistant props: Tunisia
John Bush	....	assistant set decorator
Bruce Cheesman	....	props: second unit
Steve Clarke	....	stand-by painter (as Steve Clark)
Giulia Chiara Crugnola	....	draftsman
Luciano Curti	....	painter
Stefania D'Amario	....	art department assistant
Franco Fumagalli	....	assistant art director
Bernie Hearn	....	stand-by props
Maurizio Jacopelli	....	dressing props (as Maurizio Iacopelli)
Taieb Jallouli	....	assistant art director: Tunisia
Neil Lamont	....	assistant art director
Luciano Magagnini	....	dressing props
Roberto Magagnini	....	stand-by props
Paola Mugnai	....	fresco painter
Mauro Nati	....	dressing props
Michela Papa	....	production assistant: art department
Stefano Pessione	....	art department assistant
Franco Pizzonia	....	construction supervisor: Tunisia (as Francesco Pizzonia)
Francesco Postiglione	....	dressing props
Alessandra Querzola	....	assistant set decorator
Luigi Quintili	....	construction coordinator
Mohsen Rais	....	assistant set dresser: Tunisia
Bruno Ranieri	....	assistant fresco painter
Kamel Riabi	....	prop buyer: Tunisia
Stuart Rose	....	desert cars art director
Mick Rossman	....	stand-by painter
Remo Sperati	....	assistant fresco painter
Tony Teiger	....	property master
Ty Teiger	....	assistant property master: Tunisia
Lucinda Thomson	....	art department stand-by (as Lucinda Thompson)
Mohamed Trimeche	....	assistant props: Tunisia
Peter Watson	....	dressing props
Paul Wescott	....	painter
Tony Wright	....	storyboard artist

Sound Department
James Austin	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center (as Jim Austin)
Michael Axinn	....	apprentice sound editor
Don Banks	....	boom operator (as Donald Banks)
David Franklin Bergad	....	assistant dialogue editor
Mark Berger	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sara Bolder	....	dialogue editor
Loren Byer	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Frank Canonica	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Vince Casper	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Amanda Chan	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Tobin Davis	....	assistant dialogue editor (as Tobin Delaca Davis)
Adriano Di Lorenzo	....	sound assistant
Adam Dornbusch	....	sound department intern
Richard Duarte	....	foley mixer
Malcolm Fife	....	foley editor
Grant Foerster	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Steve Fontano	....	assistant foley mixer
Anna Geyer	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Aura Gilge	....	assistant sound effects editor (as Aura Belle Gilge)
Pat Jackson	....	supervising sound editor
Rick Kahn	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Stephen Kearney	....	assistant sound effects editor
Michael Kelly	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Mark Levinson	....	adr supervisor
Scott Levitin	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Kyrsten Mate	....	sound effects editor (as Kyrsten Mate Comoglio)
Kathy McVey	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Marnie Moore	....	foley artist
Walter Murch	....	sound re-recording mixer
Douglas Murray	....	sound effects editor (as Douglas S. Murray)
Jennifer Myers	....	foley artist
Christopher Newman	....	sound recordist (as Chris Newman)
John Nutt	....	dialogue editor
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist
Dan Olmsted	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
David Parker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jim Pasque	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Mark Paul	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Richard Quinn	....	adr editor
Scott G. Roberts	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center (as Scott Roberts)
David Roesch	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Gianni Sardo	....	sound mixer: second unit
Roy Segal	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Ivan Sharrock	....	sound recordist
Steve Shurtz	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Greg Simon	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Dianna Stirpe	....	dialogue editor
Marc-Jon Sullivan	....	boom operator (as Marc Jon Sullivan)
Diego Taborda	....	sound department intern
John Timperley	....	sound engineer
Joe Tysl	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Jennifer L. Ware	....	sound effects editor
Laurie Wentworth	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Jeff Whittle	....	staff: The Saul Zaentz Film Center
Mary Works	....	assistant dialogue editor
Marilyn S. Zalkan	....	first assistant sound editor
Liberata Zocchi	....	sound transfer: Rome
Frank Canonica	....	supervising sound recordist: mix stage (uncredited)
Ann Kroeber	....	additional sound effects (uncredited)
Peter Steinbach	....	additional sound effects (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Vince Abbott	....	animatronic designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (as Vincent Abbott)
Marion Appleton	....	artwork: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Fausto Baldinelli	....	effects crew
Raffaele Battistelli	....	effects crew
Nigel Booth	....	prosthetic makeup artist: English patient, Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Sam Broadbent	....	fabricator: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Karen Cassie	....	production supervisor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Mel Coleman	....	mold maker: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Richard Conway	....	special effects supervisor
Sam Conway	....	effects crew
Dave Eltham	....	senior effects technician (as David Eltham)
Barry Fowler	....	mold maker: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (as Barry Folwer)
Marie Fraser	....	foam department: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Adrian Getley	....	foam department: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Tamzine Hanks	....	fabricator: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Graham High	....	sculptor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Jeremy Hunt	....	sculptor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Terry James	....	mold maker: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Val Jones	....	hair designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Louisa Jordan	....	fabricator: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Andy Lee	....	foam department: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (as Andy Lees)
Giancarlo Mancini	....	senior effects technician: Italy
Esteban Mendoza	....	fabricator: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Karina Randall	....	foam department: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Jason Reed	....	animatronic designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (as Jason Read)
Andy Roberts	....	animatronic designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Francesco Sabelli	....	effects crew
Kelly Sant	....	silicone department: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Terry Sibley	....	mold maker: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Paul Stentiford	....	effects crew
John Stephenson	....	visual supervisor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Tim Willis	....	senior effects technician
Kenny Wilson	....	mold design supervisor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Simon Clutterbuck	....	special effects (uncredited)
Dave Kelly	....	chargehand: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (uncredited)
Simon Rose	....	animatronics trainee (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Richard Bain	....	visual effects designer: Digital Film
Ian Chisholm	....	film outputting: Digital Film
Frazer Churchill	....	visual effects designer: Digital Film
Chris Emond	....	visual effects opticals: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Andrew Hall	....	computer generated designer: Digital Film (as Andy Hall)
Matthew Holben	....	visual effects facility producer: Digital Film
Dennis Lowe	....	visual effects supervisor: Digital Film
Julian Mann	....	computer generated designer: Digital Film
Charlie Noble	....	visual effects designer: Digital Film
Matthew Plummer	....	assistant visual effects producer: Digital Film
Paul Riddle	....	visual effects designer: Digital Film
Keith Roberts	....	computer generated designer: Digital Film
Neal Scanlan	....	creative project supervisor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Mark Stannard	....	visual effects designer: Digital Film
Arthur Windus	....	digital line producer: Digital Film
Erik De Boer	....	animator: MPC (uncredited)
Dan Glass	....	visual effects compositor: Digital Film (uncredited)
Roma O'Connor	....	production coordinator (uncredited)
Joe Pavlo	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Kevin Phelan	....	scanning and recoding producer: CFC London (uncredited)

Stunts
David Ambrosi	....	stunt rigger
Jim Dowdall	....	stunt supervisor
Steve Griffin	....	stuntman (as Steve Street-Griffin)
Paul Heasman	....	stuntman
Riccardo Mioni	....	stuntman
Franco Maria Salamon	....	stunt coordinator (as Franco Salomon)
Lee Sheward	....	stuntman
Julian Spencer	....	stuntman

Camera and Electrical Department
Remi Adefarasin	....	director of photography: second unit
Giampaolo Bagala	....	grip: second unit
Abdelaziz Belgaeid	....	electrician: Tunisia (as Adelaziz Belgaied)
Lassad Ben Khelifa	....	grip: Tunisia
Phil Bray	....	still photographer
Daniele Cafolla	....	electrician
Cristina Capone	....	camera loader: second unit
Cristina Capone	....	video playback: second unit
Vincenzo Carpineta	....	focus puller: second unit
Roberto De Angelis	....	second assistant camera
Roberto De Nigris	....	first assistant camera
Massimiliano Dessena	....	grip
Maurizio di Stefano	....	electrician (as Maurizio Di Stefano)
Antonello Emidi	....	camera loader
Sergio Faina	....	grip
Morris Flam	....	gaffer (as Mo Flam)
Mohamed Gharbi	....	electrician: Tunisia
Mario Lamoratta	....	generator operator
Maurizio Lorenzetti	....	video playback operator
Giampaolo Majorama	....	grip (as Gianpaolo Majorana)
Stefano Marino	....	best boy
Daniele Massaccesi	....	Steadicam operator
Daniele Massaccesi	....	second camera operator
Francesco Mele	....	grip
Michele Mele	....	rigging grip
Tommaso Mele	....	key grip
Giuseppe Meloni	....	rigging gaffer
Imed Nouira	....	grip: Tunisia
Michele Pellegrini	....	electrician
Marcello Pericone	....	electrician (as Marcello Perricone)
Carlo Postiglione	....	grip
Alberto Rogante	....	electrician
Salvatore Ruberto	....	electrician
Derin Seale	....	video playback operator
John Seale	....	camera operator
Nejib Shira	....	electrician: Tunisia (as Nejib Sriha)
Severino Tramontani	....	electrician

Animation Department
Paul J. Franklin	....	computer animator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Deirdre Bowen	....	casting: Canada
Brendan Donnison	....	voice casting: loop group
Risa Kes	....	casting: Germany

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alfredo Bocci	....	set costumer: second unit
Gabriella Generosi	....	seamstress
Amel Helali	....	wardrobe assistant: Tunisia
Lilia Lakhoua	....	wardrobe assistant: Tunisia
Iris Horta Lemos	....	key costumer
Donna Maloney	....	key costumer
Kamel Marmouche	....	wardrobe assistant: Tunisia
Adriana Mattiozzi	....	costumer
Tim McKelvey	....	key costumer
Carlo Poggioli	....	assistant to costume designer
Franca Rotondo	....	seamstress
Salvatore Salzano	....	costumer
Montacer Skhiri	....	wardrobe assistant: Tunisia
Claudette Lilly	....	costume buyer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Edie Bleiman	....	first assistant editor: avid
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Rosmary Conte	....	first assistant editor: film
Sean Cullen	....	apprentice editor
Dan Farrell	....	first assistant editor: film (as Daniel Farrell)
Robert Grahamjones	....	assistant film editor
Scott Guitteau	....	assistant film editor
Pat Jackson	....	associate editor
Glenn Kasprzycki	....	telecine operator
Robin Lee	....	assistant film editor
Harris Leibowitz	....	telecine operator
William Pine	....	color timer (as Bill Pine)
Franca Silvi	....	assistant film editor
Jeffery Stephens	....	assistant film editor
Blake Danforth	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Michael Kelly	....	post-production (uncredited)
Matvey Shatz	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
John Constable	....	musician: piano solo
Keith Grant	....	music recording engineer
Ronnie Hazlehurst	....	conductor: Shepheard's Hotel Jazz Orchestra
Ronnie Hazlehurst	....	music arranger
Ling Ling Li	....	assistant music editor
Harry Rabinowitz	....	conductor: The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Robert Randles	....	music editor
Georges Rodi	....	music sound designer
Michael Semanick	....	music premix
Fletcher Henderson	....	music arranger (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Duncan Barbour	....	special vehicle coordinator
Mahmoud Ben Dhifallah	....	transportation manager: Tunisia
Andrea Borella	....	transportation manager

Other crew
Franco Actis	....	pilot: Clifton's Stearman, aerial unit
Sergio Arban	....	mechanic: aerial unit
Abdelijjabar Ayadi	....	location manager: Tunisia
Amel Becharnia	....	production coordinator: Tunisia
Aziz Ben Chaabane	....	production assistant: Tunisia
Marco Besagni	....	helicopter pilot: aerial unit
Terry Bridle	....	mechanic: aerial unit
Annette Carducci	....	location manager
Dino Castelli	....	production assistant: second unit, Trieste
Giorgio Catalano	....	payroll accountant
Mounira Chebbah	....	production secretary: Tunisia
Carolyn Choa	....	choreographer
Riadh Chouanine	....	set nurse: Tunisia
Francesca Cingolani	....	production coordinator: Rome
Cristina De Rossi	....	assistant location manager (as Christina De' Rossi)
Alberto De Stefani	....	accountant: second unit
Fabiomassimo Dell'Orco	....	location manager
Gabriella Di Santo	....	production coordinator: second unit
Dianne Dreyer	....	script supervisor
Fredrica Drotos	....	production office: USA
Nancy Eichler	....	assistant: Mr. Zaentz
Lorenzo Errico	....	assistant location manager
Mouldi Essaidi	....	location manager: Tunisia
Sarah Ewing	....	assistant: Mr Minghella
Maria Fiorito	....	production accountant
Brenda Fuller	....	consultant: nursing
Giorgio Gallani	....	location manager
Aldo Gasparri	....	armorer: Tuscany
Giancarlo Giunchi	....	helicopter pilot: aerial unit
Judith Goodman	....	production coordinator: Rome & Viareggio
Hannah Green	....	researcher
Rachel Griffiths	....	script supervisor: second unit
Holly Hardin	....	assistant production coordinator
Arthur Hogben	....	consultant: demolitions (as Major Arthur Hogben)
Mokhtar Joulak	....	location manager: Tunisia
Larry Kaplan	....	unit publicist
Vernice Klier	....	dialogue coach: Ms. Binoche
Robert Lloyd	....	production office: USA (as Rob Lloyd)
Salvatore Magnisi	....	accounting assistant
Lina Martins	....	assistant: Ms. Binoche
Adel Marzouki	....	set doctor: Tunisia
Maria Grazia Melline	....	production secretary
Karin Mercurio	....	accountant
Silvia Ranfagni	....	assistant production coordinator
Carl Schmidt	....	armorer: Sahara desert
Enzo Sisti	....	production auditor
Francesca Spinotti	....	production assistant
Ridha Tayak	....	accountant: Tunisia (as Ridha Taya)
Brahim Toumi	....	location manager: Tunisia
Aminta Townshend	....	production assistant
Giorgio Tregnaghi	....	production accountant: Tunisia
Leila Turki	....	location manager: Tunisia
Ridha Turki	....	fiscal representative: International Monastir Films, Tunisia
Pino Valenti	....	airplane coordinator: aerial unit
Daniela Vecchi	....	production coordinator
Becky Veduccio	....	assistant: Mr. Fiennes
Clive Watson	....	pilot: Madox's Tiger Moth, aerial unit
Alan White	....	translite backings
Vito Colazzo	....	location manager: second unit, Italy (uncredited)
Christopher Gambale	....	assistant: Harvey Weinstein (uncredited)
Juliet Mason	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Deborah Ross	....	title designer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Miramax Films (presents)
• Tiger Moth Productions (copyright owners)

Distributors

• Miramax Films (1996) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• Empire (2008) (Romania) (DVD)
• Buena Vista International (1997) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films AB (1997) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Egmont Film (1997) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (1996) (France) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1997) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Alliance Video
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2000) (France) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (1997) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Egmont Film (1997) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Europa Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (Portugal)
• Gativideo (1997) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Laurenfilm (Spain)
• Lumière (Brazil) (VHS)
• Nordisk Film (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Home Entertainment (1997) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (limited edition steelbook)
• Spentzos Film Home Video (1997) (Greece) (VHS)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2010) (Argentina) (DVD) (4-disc Grandes Ganadoras del Oscar)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2012) (Argentina) (DVD) (double feature with "Could Mountain" [2003])

Special Effects

• Computer Film Company, The (CFC) (title sequence) (uncredited)
• Digital Film (main title animation) (as Digital Film, London)
• Digital Film (visual effects) (as Digital Film, London)
• Jim Henson's Creature Shop (prosthetics)
• Moving Picture Company (MPC) (uncredited)

Other Companies

• Academy of St. Martin in the Fields  original music performed by
• Air Studios  music recorded at (as Air Studios, London)
• Anderson & Sheppard  the producer and director wish to thank
• Angel Recording Studios  music recorded at (as Angel Recording Studio, London)
• Angels & Bermans  the producer and director wish to thank
• British Library, The  the producer and director wish to thank
• British Pathé  the producer and director wish to thank (as British Pathe)
• Cinecittà  cranes and dollies (as Cinecitta Film Studios, Rome)
• Cinecittà  sound transfer (as Cinecitta Film Studios, Rome)
• Cinema Completions International (CCI)  completion guaranty provided through
• Comune di Pienza  the producer and director wish to thank
• Comuni Di Trieste  the producer and director wish to thank
• Convento Di Sant'Anna  the producer and director wish to thank
• Corpo Militaire Della Croce Rossa Italiana  the producer and director wish to thank (as Croce Rossa Italiana)
• DeLuxe Toronto  prints by (as Deluxe Toronto)
• Deborah Ross Film Design  title design
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production (uncredited)
• Dream Cars  picture car pre production design and logistics
• F.IIi Cartocci  cranes and dollies supplied by (as F.IIi Cartocci, Rome)
• Fantasy Records  original soundtrack recording available on
• G.H. Mumm & Cie  the producer and director wish to thank
• Gourmet, Le  catering: Tunisia
• Hotel Des Bains, Lido Di Venezia  the producer and director wish to thank
• IVC  digital mastering
• J&M Entertainment  international distribution consultants
• Murray Weissman and Associates  marketing and promotion
• Organizzazioni Cucine Mobili  catering: Italy
• Pacific Title  end titles
• Panavision Italia  cameras and lenses provided by
• Royal Geographic Society  the producer and director wish to thank
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  Dolby Digital sound mix (as Saul Zaentz Film Center, Berkeley, California)
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  film editing (as Saul Zaentz Film Center, Berkeley, California)
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  re-recording facilities (uncredited)
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound editing (as Saul Zaentz Film Center, Berkeley, California)
• Shepheard's Hotel Jazz Orchestra  music performed by
• Steppin' Out  the producer and director wish to thank
• Tirelli Costumi  the producer and director wish to thank (as Costumi Tirelli)
• Truman Van Dyke Company  insurance provided by
• Tunis Air  the producer and director wish to thank
• Tunisian Government, The  the producer and director wish to thank
• Union Bank of California Entertainment Finance Group  production financing provided by (as Bank of California, N.A.)
• Yad Music  music publisher (as Yad Music, France)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, some violence and language

Runtime:

162 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | German | Italian | Arabic

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #34884) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Denmark:15 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:PG-13 | Brazil:16

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

In the scene where Hana is being pulled up to see the paintings in the church, the electric power and smoke for her "torch" was being piped through the seemingly real rope on which she was sitting.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the Tobruk interrogation center, the German officer wears the shoulder boards of a major and the SS collar insignia of a full colonel.

Quotes:

Katharine Clifton:This - what is this?
Almásy:It's a folk song.
Katharine Clifton:Arabic.
Almásy:No, no. It's Hungarian. My daijka sang it to me when I was a child growing up in Budapest.
Katharine Clifton:It's beautiful. What's it about?
Almásy:Szerelam means love. And the story, well, there's this Hungarian count. He's a wanderer. He's a fool. And for years he's on some kind of a quest for... who knows what. And then one day, he falls under the spell of a mysterious English woman. A harpy, who beats him, and hits him, he becomes her slave, and he sews her clothes, and worships...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Evgenios... agnoston loipon stoiheion (1997)

Soundtrack:

God Save the King

A Magnificent Motion Picture

In a style reminiscent of the best of David Lean, this romantic love story sweeps across the screen with epic proportions equal to the vast desert regions against which it is set. It's a film which purports that one does not choose love, but rather that it's love that does the choosing, regardless of who, where or when; and furthermore, that it's a matter of the heart often contingent upon prevailing conditions and circumstances. And thus is the situation in `The English Patient,' directed by Anthony Minghella, the story of two people who discover passion and true love in the most inopportune of places and times, proving that when it is predestined, love will find a way.

It's WWII; flying above the African desert, Hungarian Count Laszlo de Almasy (Ralph Fiennes) is shot down, his biplane mistaken for an enemy aircraft. And though he survives the crash, he is severely burned. To his great good fortune, however, he is rescued by a tribe of nomads and winds up in a hospital. But existing conditions are governed by circumstances of war, and Almasy soon becomes one of many patients being transported via convoy to a different facility. Upon reaching Italy, he is too weak and ill to continue on, and a Canadian nurse, Hana (Juliette Binoche), volunteers to stay behind with him at an abandoned monastery.

Hana soon discovers that her charge is something of a man of mystery, as Almasy remembers nothing of his past, and not even his own name. Thought to be English, the only clues pointing to who he is are contained in a book found in his possession after the crash, but even they are as cryptic as Hana's patient. Slowly, however, under prompting from Hana, Almasy begins to remember bits and pieces of his life, and his story begins to unfold. And his memory is helped along even more by the appearance of a mysterious stranger named Caravaggio (Willem Dafoe), who suspects that Almasy is the man he's been looking for-- a man with whom he wants to settle a score. But, burned beyond recognition, Almasy may or may not be that man. Meanwhile, Almasy's memories continue to surface; memories of a woman he loved, Katherine Clifton (Kristin Scott Thomas)-- as well as memories of Katherine's husband, Geoffrey (Colin Firth). And, crippled in mind and body as he is, those memories become the only thing left to which he can cling with any hope at all, even as his life seems to be slipping farther away with each passing moment.

In addition to directing, Anthony Minghella also wrote the screenplay for this film, which he adapted from the novel by Michael Ondaatje. The result is an epic saga presented in the tradition of Lean's `Doctor Zhivago' and `Lawrence of Arabia'; a magnificent film that fills the screen and the senses with unprecedented grandeur and beauty. Simply put, Minghella's film is genius realized; crafted and delivered with a poetic perfection, watching it is like watching a Monet come to life. From the opening frames, Minghella casts a hypnotic spell over his audience that is binding and transporting, with a story that has an emotional beauty that equals the engagingly stunning and vibrant images brought to life by John Seale's remarkable cinematography; images that virtually fill the screen as well as the soul of the viewer. In every sense, this is a film of rare eloquence, with a striking emotional capacity that facilitates an experience that is truly transcendental. Nominated in twelve categories, it deservedly received a total of nine Oscars, including Best Picture, Director, Supporting Actress (Binoche) and Cinematography.

If one had to choose a single word to describe the `essence' of this film, it would be `excellence.' Even an extraordinary film, however, does not receive nine Oscars without performances that are extraordinary in kind; and the performances given by Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas here transcend the term `Oscar worthy.' Nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Almasy (Geoffrey Rush was awarded the gold for `Shine'), Fiennes has never been better, achieving an emotional depth with his character that is nearly palpable. Private and introspective, Almasy is not by his very nature an individual to whom the audience will be able to form an intimate connection; Fiennes, however, finds a way to open that emotional door just enough to let you in, enough so that you taste the honest passion welling up within him. And it works. Almasy does not seek your friendship; he will, however, gain your compassion.

Kristen Scott Thomas, too, received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress (Frances McDormand received the award for `Fargo') for her portrayal of Katherine, a woman whose stoic countenance masks the emotional conflict raging within her, born of the forbidden passion that enslaves her and yet to which she gives herself willingly, casting off her shackles of repression to embrace a love so strong it threatens to consume her. The reserve Katherine must maintain evokes the empathy of the audience, as Scott Thomas successfully mines the emotional depths of her character to the greatest possible effect. It's the kind of performance that draws you in and holds you fast, taking you as it does beyond that curtain of hypocrisy that dictates what must be if only for the sake of appearances, and allows you to experience a true sense of unbridled passion. Understated and shaded with subtlety, it's terrific work by Kristin Scott Thomas.

Binoche gives a stunning, affecting performance, as well, as the kindhearted nurse, Hana; it is her humanity, in fact, which defines love in it's purest sense and offers a balanced perspective of it within the context of the film. Her relationship with Kip (Naveen Andrews) affords us a glimpse of passion of another kind, which contrasts effectively with the intensity of that between Almasy and Katherine. `The English Patient' is a film that will move you and fill you emotionally; one you will not want to see end. 10/10.