The English Patient

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The English Patient

R

1996

2h 42m

Romance

War

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

93 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

The sweeping expanses of the Sahara are the setting for a passionate love affair in this adaptation of Michael Ondaatje's novel. A badly burned man, Laszlo de Almasy (Ralph Fiennes), is tended to by a nurse, Hana (Juliette Binoche), in an Italian monastery near the end of World War II. His past is revealed through flashbacks involving a married Englishwoman (Kristin Scott Thomas) and his work mapping the African landscape. Hana learns to heal her own scars as she helps the dying man.

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Critics Consensus

Though it suffers from excessive length and ambition, director Minghella's adaptation of the Michael Ondaatje novel is complex, powerful, and moving.

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

02/04/2020

If Minghella's debut feature Truly, Madly, Deeply was overrated -- a Ghost for the NW3 set -- this movie is a quantum leap towards cinema's potential for magic.

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Geoff Brown

The Times (UK)

02/04/2020

You can take your brain to The English Patient and you will not be insulted. Your eyes will not be offended either. This scarcely makes Minghella's film the best in the world; it just makes it loom large.

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Jay Carr

Boston Globe

04/27/2018

Its wit, sophistication and artistry never are at odds with the fundamental pull of a powerful love story that out-Zhivagos Doctor Zhivago because it respects love's mysteries, admits it doesn't know the heart's boundaries.

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Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

Apr 10

B

It's long and slow, but it has undeniable romantic appeal. This could be the romantic hit of the holiday as well as an Oscar contender.

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Dan Bayer

Next Best Picture

02/13/2025

6/10

“The English Patient” is a period romance both sincere and detached. This combination doesn’t fully work, even as everyone involved is doing some spectacular work in bringing a lopsided script to life.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

11/18/2023

... a 'Casablanca' for the 90s, directed with sweep, elegance, and grand passions by Anthony Minghella from his screenplay adaptation of Michael Ondaatje’s novel.

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Ben W

@Username618 2d

Spoiler alert. Remember the soundtrack, but, again... Crashing a plane into someone for revenge, vvvvv unlikely.

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Ivan B

@Bogda May 17

Ok story, nice visuals, too long and little slow. Characters not very interesting. Ok for filling the time on the flight, hardly deserving all oscars it won.

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V G

@GrayVes May 16

The only really good thing about this movie is Kristen Thomas

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中翔谢

@RT88572460 Nov 5

I just love Ralph Fiennes's acting in this movie, his the perfect choice for this role, and so romantic so charming and cold in the outside while I can see the fire of passion burning inside and his accent just make it even better

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Oct 12

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Paul S

@PManRager Oct 11

This movie was amazing! While I had a hard time understanding the characters, the story was riveting and heartwarming, and Ralph Fiennes gave an amazing performance. I definitely recommend it for romance and drama fans!

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Anthony Minghella

Director

Ralph Fiennes

Count Laszlo de Almásy

Juliette Binoche

Hana

Willem Dafoe

David Caravaggio

Kristin Scott Thomas

Katharine Clifton

Naveen Andrews

Lt. Kip Singh

The English Patient: Official Clip - Always Loved You

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The English Patient: Official Clip - I Promise I'll Never Leave You

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The English Patient: Official Clip - Cathedral Paintings

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The English Patient: Official Clip - Defusing a Bomb

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The English Patient: Official Clip - Why Were You Holding His Collar?

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The English Patient: Official Clip - Happy Christmas

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The English Patient: Official Clip - May I Have This Dance

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The English Patient: Official Clip - The Major Who Takes Thumbs

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The English Patient: Official Clip - In Love with Ghosts

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Synopsis

The sweeping expanses of the Sahara are the setting for a passionate love affair in this adaptation of Michael Ondaatje's novel. A badly burned man, Laszlo de Almasy (Ralph Fiennes), is tended to by a nurse, Hana (Juliette Binoche), in an Italian monastery near the end of World War II. His past is revealed through flashbacks involving a married Englishwoman (Kristin Scott Thomas) and his work mapping the African landscape. Hana learns to heal her own scars as she helps the dying man.

Director: Anthony Minghella
Producer: Saul Zaentz
Screenwriter: Michael Ondaatje
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax Films, J&M Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Romance, War, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 6, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $78.7M
Runtime: 2h 42m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)