At the close of World War II, 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.At the close of World War II, 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.At the close of World War II, 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.
- Director
- Writers
- Michael Ondaatje(novel)
- Anthony Minghella(screenplay)
- Stars
- Director
- Writers
- Michael Ondaatje(novel)
- Anthony Minghella(screenplay)
- Stars
- Won 9 Oscars
- 62 wins & 77 nominations total
- Director
- Writers
- Michael Ondaatje(novel)
- Anthony Minghella(screenplay)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Germans who shoot at Almásy's plane at the beginning were actually tourists roped into the production because they couldn't afford any more extras.
- GoofsWhen the British soldiers are discussing getting through the mountains, one says, "The Bell maps show a way," to which another replies, "Let's hope he was right." In fact Bell was Gertrude Bell, the first woman to be hired as a British military intelligence officer.
- Quotes
Katharine Clifton: My darling. I'm waiting for you. How long is the day in the dark? Or a week? The fire is gone, and I'm horribly cold. I really should drag myself outside but then there'd be the sun. I'm afraid I waste the light on the paintings, not writing these words. We die. We die rich with lovers and tribes, tastes we have swallowed, bodies we've entered and swum up like rivers. Fears we've hidden in - like this wretched cave. I want all this marked on my body. We are the real countries. Not boundaries drawn on maps with the names of powerful men. I know you'll come carry me out to the Palace of Winds. That's what I've wanted: to walk in such a place with you. With friends, on an earth without maps. The lamp has gone out and I'm writing in the darkness.
- Crazy creditsDisclaimer in end credits: "While a number of the characters who appear in this film are based on historical figures, and while many of the areas described - such as the Cave of Swimmers and its surrounding desert - exist and were explored in the 1930s, it is important to stress that this story is a fiction and that the portraits of the characters who appear in it are fictional, as are some of the events and journeys."
- SoundtracksYes! We Have No Bananas
(1923)
Music and Lyrics by Frank Silver and Irving Cohn (as Irving Conn)
Published by Skidmore Music Co., Inc.
I always appreciated this movie, although the genre is not my typical style (I never watched Titanic for instance, and am not planning to).
The English Patient grips because it shows how people can be different when they are in an exotic environment as opposed when they are 'home' (Katherine), it shows how destructive love can be in a slow, strong and utterly painful way, it excites because of the extremely passionate affair, the pain of the one(s) who leave behind, how pointless one can feel to move on.
The photography is just stunning, not to mention the play of the actors. The pace is slow, but timely, and that does justice to the book, the timeline, and the depth/development of the characters. To put this in 110 minutes (as some seem to suggest here) would amputate the multi-layeredness of this movie. People tend to have difficulties with the pace of movies... as if they are in a rush to get to work.. hey - get a life ! ;-) enjoy...
I give this movie 4.5 out of 5.
- labrang
- Nov 8, 2004
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Den engelska patient
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $27,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $78,676,425
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $278,439
- Nov 17, 1996
- Gross worldwide
- $231,976,425
- Runtime2 hours 42 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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