The English Patient ****

Director: Anthony Minghella

Year: 1996

Book by: Michael Ondaatje

Adapted by: Anthony Minghella

Cinematographer: John Seale

This film is considered a classic, and it is very good. Though it feels very much like an English novel, in that it is long and grandiose, and centers around the tragedy of the English patient's love story.

You have to be in the mood for this kind of long romantic tragedy novel in order to enjoy it, but it is rewarding, great acting and genuinely a good story. About 30 minutes before the end I was doubting why Juliette Binoche had a love interest in this picture, and not until the last 5 minutes does the story come together such that you see the connection.

Ralph Fiennes' character asks to die, part from reaching the end of the telling of his story and the sorrow it brings him to think of it, but more because he knows first hand the tragedies that can occur when two are in love and one must stay behind. Therefore, knowing he is the very reason Binoche must stay behind, he asks to die, thereby freeing her to go pursue the new love, the new hope that exists for her life.

It's a great story surely, but to sit through this film can be a bit difficult if your attention span is short. If you don't like reading Shakespeare, you probably will fall asleep during this film.