The English Patient (R) 8.0

The English Patient (1996): 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. (7.3)

Director: Anthony Minghella
Writers: Michael Ondaatje (novel), Anthony Minghella (screenplay)
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, Kristin Scott Thomas, Naveen Andrews

This epic scale movie contains a couple of complex stories of love, lust, trust, betrayal, fear and caring. Set in the backdrop of a major historical event, the story (or, I should say stories, as there are two major relationship dramas unfolding, one in real time and one in flashbacks) depicts the human side of wants, desires and consequences. The storytelling is slow at times, but that gives the viewer the necessary space to understand the complexities and appreciate the acting. Speaking of acting, all of the major players and even the supporting cast members are just superb. The cinematography alone is worth the price of admission. But at the end, it is the emotions portrayed by the characters that tug at your heart strings. This is one of those movies you'd want to watch over and over because it is that good. My Rating: 8.0