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The English Patient (film)

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The English Patient
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAnthony Minghella
Screenplay byAnthony Minghella
Produced bySaul Zaentz
StarringRalph Fiennes
Juliette Binoche
Willem Dafoe
Kristin Scott Thomas
CinematographyJohn Seale
Edited byWalter Murch
Music byGabriel Yared
Production
companies
Miramax Films
Tiger Moth Productions
Distributed byMiramax Films
Release date
  • November 15, 1996 (1996-11-15)
Running time
162 minutes[1]
CountriesUnited States
United Kingdom
LanguagesEnglish
German
Italian
Arabic
Hungarian
Budget$27 million[2]
Box office$231,976,425[2]

The English Patient (1996) is a North African/Italian Campaigns of World War II romantic drama themed film adaptation by the Academy Awards[3] lauded director Anthony Minghella (wrote the filmscript), from the novel of the same name by Sri Lankan-born/Canadian writer Michael Ondaatje; and Saul Zaentz (producer). Ondaatje worked closely with the filmmakers.[4]

The film's invocation of fate, romance, and tragedy unfolds through the story of a burn victim in World War II Italy. Once, a dashing archaeologist whose sacrifices to save the woman he loves spell his end.

Plot

In the final days of the Italian Campaign of World War II, Hana, a French-Canadian nurse in a bombed Italian monastery looks after a critically burned man who speaks English but is defiant about revealing his identity.

David Caravaggio, a former thief who is now a Canadian Intelligence Corps operative, arrives at the monastery with bandaged hands and an acute interest in the morphine supply and the English patient's past. Hana starts a romance with Kip, a Sikh sapper in the British Army defusing bombs, despite the "curse" she believes she casts on those close to her.

In the late 1930s, the Hungarian cartographer Count László de Almásy maps the Sahara as a co-leader of a Royal Geographical Society archeological and surveying expedition in Egypt and Libya with the Englishman Peter Madox. They are academics at heart and naïve about the brewing war. Madox owns his own plane, a Tiger Moth. Geoffrey and Katherine Clifton come to the camp aboard their purported privately-owned Boeing-Stearman. Geoffrey is often away mapping. Katherine and Almásy fall in love and the intense romance founders on her guilt and his jealousy.

The Count studies an ancient Saharan site, the Cave of Swimmers until the British order a stop, with the onset of war, to all expeditions. Peter leaves his Tiger Moth at Kufra oasis before the two de camp and go their separate ways.

Caravaggio lost his thumbs to interrogation by a German Army officer in Tobruk and he seeks revenge against the three men he holds responsible for trespasses during the war; Almásy is the last remaining. He accuses the English patient of being Almásy and betraying the British. The burn victim explains that is wrong and that it is himself that has been betrayed by the British. He tells his story.

When Geoffrey discovers the affair, and with Katherine aboard, he pilots their plane aiming at the Count. Geoffrey is killed instantly. Almásy is narrowly hit and leaves the seriously injured Katherine in the Cave with provisions. Help is three days walk to El Tag. He stumbles into the British-held town dazed and dehydrated. Under questioning he is unable to explain his plight. He acts erratic, loses his temper, and is detained until transported in chains on a train north to Benghazi. He escapes, trades the British maps to the Germans for gasoline so that he can fly in Madox's plane to the Cave, and is too late.

He attempts to return Katherine's body but a German anti-aircraft battery shoots them down. Her body is not recovered in the crash; he is horribly burned and rescued by Bedouin.

Carvaggio is ready to forgive. Kip averts death defusing a bomb that is deep in a pit on the war's last day. So, Hana's hope in love is rekindled. She cannot refuse Almásy's want of a fatal dose of morphine. She leaves to north of Florence for Kip's new post.


Cast

Actor Role Remarks
Ralph Fiennes Count László Almásy The physical appearance of Almásy is commonly linked to the fictional character Indiana Jones: tanned skin, khaki attire and similar hat. Male archaeologists portrayed in film seem to fit one or more of these stereotypical traits [5]
Kristen Scott Thomas Katharine Clifton Originally, 20th Century Fox wanted Demi Moore in this role, the producers refused and that studio backed out being replaced by Miramax and Thomas.[6]
Willem Dafoe David Caravaggio This character role was tremendously reduced from the book.[7]
Juliette Binoche Hana
Naveen Andrews Kip
Colin Firth Geoffrey Clifton
Julian Wadham Peter Madox
Jürgen Prochnow Major Muller
Kevin Whately Sgt. Hardy
Clive Merrison Fenelon-Barnes
Nino Castelnuovo D'Agostino
Hichem Rostom Fouad
Peter Rühring Bermann
Geordie Johnson Oliver
Torri Higginson Mary
Liisa Repo-Martell Jan
Raymond Coulthard Rupert Douglas
Philip Whitchurch Corporal Dade
Lee Ross Spalding
Anthony Smee Beach interrogation officer
Matthew Ferguson Young Canadian soldier
Jason Done Kiss Me soldier
Roger Morlidge Desert Train Sergeant

Themes

Archaeology

A study of the prehistoric Saharan Cave of Swimmers" was made by Hungarian László Almásy (October 1933) during the Leo Frobenius expedition. The location was aided with an airplane owned by an expedition member. This site is portrayed in both Ondaatje's novel and Minghella's film.[8] If the film storyline was the same as real life then it would appear to be that the reference made by Katherine of being made aware of Almásy's monograph would be this site but of course that is the quandary of real life versus fiction. Some archaeology was conducted during World War II in Egypt and lead to the significant Tanis find with intrinsic, artistic and cultural value similar to others but due to the time of its finding it has not been as made well known as Tutankhamen. The deprivations caused by World War II do not support that as wide-scale archaeology continued during World War II as has previously or after. World War II aerial photography has been a tremendous advantage to evaluate the study potential of sites, particularly large sites.[9] The physical appearance of Almásy is commonly linked to the fictional character Indiana Jones: tanned skin, khaki attire and similar hat. Male archaeologists portrayed in film seem to fit one or more of these stereotypical traits [10]

Intelligence Gathering And Espionage

These activities are an underlying theme and interest that is inseparable from the story of this film and the source of its adaptation. You may want to get a better understanding of the history by consulting, among others: Intelligence Branch (Canadian Forces),[11] Canadian Intelligence Corps and Long Range Desert Group.".[12]

Production

Triumph 3HW 350cc motorcycle specified in the novel as Kip's choice of transport and used in the film

The Zaentz/Minghella collaboration began when the former viewed Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990), prompting him to make known his wish to work with the director. Minghella subsequently brought the novel to the attention of Zaentz. The film was shot on location in Tunisia and Italy.[13] and cost $31 million to produce.[14]

Airplanes

Two types of plane are used in the film.[15] The De Havilland D.H.82 Tiger Moth appears first when the Count attempts returning Katherine's dead body for interment in the garden of her English seacoast home. The Clifton's arrived camp aboard a Boeing-Stearman Model 75. Both are biplanes; an aircraft with two main supporting surfaces (wings) usually placed one above the other.[16] They both use fuel that is more characteristic of gasoline than any type of airplane or jet fuel.[17] The on-screen registration numbers on each plane were fictitious. The camp crash scene was made with a .5 scale model. Both were commonly used in pilot training and later used extensively in dusting crops in the years after World War II when decommissioned by the governments.[15] Michael Ondaatje's The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film (2002),[18] is based on the conversations of the author and film editor. Murch, with a career that already included complex works like the Godfather trilogy, The Conversation, and Apocalypse Now, dreaded the task of film editing footage with multiple flashbacks and time frames, but once he began the possibilities became apparent, some of which took him away from the order of the original script. A reel without sound was made so scene change visuals would be consistent with the quality of the aural aspect between the two. The final cut features over 40 temporal transitions.[19]

Reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim, was a box office success and a major award winner: 9 out of 12 nominated Academy Awards categories; 2 out of 7 nominated Golden Globe Awards categories; and 6 out of 13 nominated the BAFTA Award categories. It has a "Certified Fresh" rating of 84% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 61 reviews although, a "complex, powerful, and moving" novel and a film of "excessive length and ambition."[20] Metacritic rated it at 87% on, indicating "universal acclaim".[21] The Chicago Sun Times critic, Roger Ebert, rated it 4/4, concluding "it's the kind of movie you can see twice – first for the questions, the second time for the answers."[22] Leonard Maltin's movie guide rated it 3 1/2 out of 4, praising the adaption of novel that is both "mesmerizing" and an "exceptional achievement all around".

Awards And Honors

69th Academy Awards[3][23]
Award Actor/Crew Outcome Remarks
Best Picture Saul Zaentz Won In 2011, it ranked #3 of Best Picture winners since 1998 (proceeded by: Amadeus (1994)) and The Hurt Locker (2008) to not reach #1 in the top five of the weekend box office rankings[24] It seems to have maintained that distinction at #5 by January 2014 although proceeded by the following films: by the non-IMAX format films (The Descendants (2011), #4 and Up In The Air (2011), #3; and the IMAX films: Everest (1998), #2 and Space Station 3-D (2002), #1).[25]
Best Actress in a Supporting Role Juliette Binoche Won Won over Lauren Bacall (The Mirror Has Two Faces); it would have been her first Oscar. Binoche, in her acceptance speech, said she had expected Bacall to win.
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration Stuart Craig and Stephanie McMillan Won
Best Cinematography John Seale Won
Best Costume Design Ann Roth Won
Best Director Anthony Minghella Won
[[Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing Academy Award Best Sound Mixing Academy Award]] Walter Murch Won
Best Original Score Gabriel Yared Won See The English Patient (soundtrack). Andrew Lloyd Webber joked, "Thank goodness there wasn't a song in The English Patient." since it had such a strong presence.
Best Sound Walter Murch, Mark Berger, David Parker, and Christopher Newman Won
Best Actor in a Leading Role Ralph Fiennes Nominated
Best Actress in a Leading Role Kristin Scott Thomas Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Anthony Minghella Nominated
54th Golden Globe Awards, USA[3][23]
Award Actor/Crew Outcome Remarks
Best Motion Picture – Drama Saul Zaentz Won
Best Original Score Gabriel Yared Won
Best Director Anthony Minghella Nominated
Best Actor – Motion Picture Ralph Fiennes Nominated
Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama Kristin Scott Thomas Nominated
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Juliette Binoche Nominated
Best Screenplay Anthony Minghella Nominated
51st British Academy Film Awards (1997), UK
Actor/Crew Award Outcome Remarks
Saul Zaentz Best Film Won
John Seale Best Cinematography Won
Walter Murch Best Editing Won
Juliette Binoche Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Won
Anthony Minghella Best Screenplay – Adapted Won
Gabriel Yared Best Music Won
Anthony Minghella Best Direction Nominated
Ralph Fiennes Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated
Kristin Scott Thomas Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominated
Ann Roth Best Costume Design Nominated
Best Production Design Nominated
Best Sound Nominated
Best Makeup/Hair Nominated
47th Berlin International Film Festival (1997), GD[26]
Award Actor/Crew Outcome Remarks
Silver Bear for Best Actress Juliette Binoche Won
Golden Bear Nominated
AFI 100 Years… series of Cinematic Milestones/;BFI Top 100 British films[27]
Category Distinction Date Checked Remarks
AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies Nominated
AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions #56
AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores Nominated
BFI Top 100 British films #55 1-28-2014

References

  1. ^ "THE ENGLISH PATIENT (15)". British Board of Film Classification. December 4, 1996. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  2. ^ a b The English Patient at Box Office Mojo
  3. ^ a b c Van Gelder, Lawrence (March 25, 1997). "'English Patient' Dominates Oscars With Nine, Including Best Picture". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved June 18, 2008.
  4. ^ http://www.powells.com/review/2002_08_31.html; viewed 1-24-2014.
  5. ^ Marwick, Ben (2012). 'Self-image, the long view and archaeological engagement with film: an animated. World Archaeology. pp. 394–404.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ citation needed beyond: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000193/bio; viewed 1-26-2014.
  7. ^ http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Willem_Dafoe.aspx; viewed 2-3-2014.
  8. ^ http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/africa/gilf_kebir_cave_of_swimmers/index.php; viewed 1-24-2014.
  9. ^ http://www.archaeology.org/0505/abstracts/tanis.html; http://www.archaeology.org/issues/110-1311/trenches/1391-corona-spy-imagery-reveals-roman-forts-in-romania; viewed 1-24-2014.
  10. ^ Marwick, Ben (2012). 'Self-image, the long view and archaeological engagement with film: an animated. World Archaeology. pp. 394–404.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. ^ Harold A. Skaarup ‘Out of Darkness—Light: A History of Canadian Military Intelligence, Volume 1’; http://www.rockymountainrangers.ca/?p=eductraining Canadian Forces Schools.
  12. ^ Gross, O'Carroll and Chiarvetto 2009, p.21
  13. ^ "Film locations for The English Patient". Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  14. ^ http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Masterful-English-Patient-3112068.php#page-1; viewed 1/24-2014.
  15. ^ a b http://www.impdb.org/index.php?title=The_English_Patient; viewed 1-24-2014.
  16. ^ http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biplane; viewed 1-24-2014.
  17. ^ http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/havilland_dh-82.php; http://www.pilotfriend.com/aircraft%20performance/stearman.htm; both viewed, 1-24-2014.
  18. ^ Random House Inc.
  19. ^ http://www.powells.com/review/2002_08_31.html; viewed 1-24-2014.
  20. ^ The English Patient at Rotten Tomatoes
  21. ^ The English Patient at Metacritic
  22. ^ The English Patient :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 10, 2008.
  23. ^ a b "The 69th Academy Awards (1997) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  24. ^ The English Patient (1996) – Weekend Box Office Results. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 14, 2011; Amadeus (1994) – Weekend Box Office Results. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 14, 2011; Top Grossing Movies That Never Hit the Top 5 at the Box Office.
  25. ^ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/domestic/never1.htm?page=never5&p=.htm Top Grossing Movies That Never Hit the Top 5 at the Box Office; viewed 1-24-2014.
  26. ^ "Berlinale: 1997 Prize Winners". berlinale.de. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  27. ^ http://www.listal.com/list/bfis-top-100-british-films; 1-28-2014.
Further reading
  • Blakesley, David (2007). "Mapping the other: The English Patient, colonial rhetoric, and cinematic representation". The Terministic Screen: Rhetorical Perspectives on Film. Southern Illinois University Press. ISBN 0-8093-2488-1.
  • Massood, Paula J. (2005). "Defusing The English Patient". In Stam; Raengo, Alessandra (eds.). Literature and Film: A Guide to the Theory and Practice of Film Adaptation. Blackwell. ISBN 0-631-23054-8.
  • Minghella, Anthony (1997). The English Patient: A Screenplay by Anthony Minghella. Methuen Publishing. ISBN 0-413-71500-0.
  • Thomas, Bronwen (2000). "Piecing together a mirage: Adapting The English patient for the screen". In Giddings, Robert; Sheen, Erica (eds.). The Classic Novel from Page to Screen. Manchester University Press. ISBN 0-7190-5230-0.
  • Yared, Gabriel (2007). Gabriel Yared's The English Patient: A Film Score Guide. The Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-5910-6.
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