The English Patient

The English Patient (1996)

  • 83% of critics liked it
    (58 reviews)

  • 81% of users liked it
    (77,291 ratings)

Anthony Minghella wrote and directed this award-winning adaptation of Michael Ondaatje's novel about a doomed and tragic romance set against the backdrop of World War II. In a field hospital in Italy, Hana (Juliette Binoche), a nurse from Canada, is caring for a pilot who was horribly burned in a… More

R, 2 hr. 42 min.
Directed By
Anthony Minghella
Written By
Michael Ondaatje, Anthony Minghella
Genres
Drama, Romance
In Theaters
Nov 15, 1996 Wide
On DVD
Mar 24, 1998
Miramax Films

Critic Reviews

  • David Ansen, Newsweek

    Out of each of these uprooted characters are spun stories of love, loyalty and betrayal.

  • Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine

    The cast is superb: Binoche, with her thin, seraphic smile; Scott Thomas, aware of the spell she casts but not flaunting it; Fiennes, especially, radiating sexy mystery, threat shrouded in hauteur. Doom and drive rarely have so much stately star quality.

  • Todd McCarthy, Variety

    A respectable, intelligent but less than stirring adaptation of an imposingly dense and layered novel.

  • Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle

    This is the real thing, and real things don't come along very often, so you'd better snap them up when they do.

  • Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

    For all the film's effectiveness as a love story, I often felt I was being hurried through a busy itinerary.

Read all 18 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Jeff "


    The English Patient is a film that I really want to enjoy. Unfortunately, I really couldn't get into the story. I do enjoy a good drama/romance, but Unfortunately this one simply just didn't do it for me. I applaud the acting, as I thought there was good performances here.… More

  • Raymond W


    Based on the book of the same name, The English Patient is a sweeping drama that is complex, moving, and very powerful. It's breathtakingly shot, and the score by Gabriel Yared is one of the most beautiful I've ever heard. Juliette Binoche, Ralph Fiennes and Kristen Scott… More

  • Chris W


    Ooooh, what have we here? It's a big, sweeping romantic epic rooted in history that's also a literary adaptation (which doesn't surprise me). I can see why this won so damn many Oscars (among other awards). In all seriousness though, I need to be honest. This type of… More

  • AJ V


    I saw this romantic drama on TV a few years ago, and it seemed very good from what I saw of it, but I need to see the rest of the film sometime.

  • Jameson W


    Excellent! One of the most stunning, epic, classic romance films I have ever seen. Winner of 9 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress, this is a must see! (Even if you are a dude). This is definitely a chick flick, but it's extremely… More

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

See full cast

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