Strikingly beautiful love story with world war II in the back drop

Rating: Null/10 (20 March 2001)

The reason why this film is so mesmerising is that it combines so many elements of a good story. There are 2 love stories, a spy plot, the platonic relationship between a nurse and a dying patient, revenge subplot, war time pathos and all these are enhanced by the beautiful landscape of the arabian desert. Any one of them could be stretched to make a movie. So when you get all of them together, its like a 7-course dinner, overtly sumptious and satisfying. The main plot is of the adulterous relationship between Ralphs Fiennes, an officer in the Royal Exploration Service during the colonial days, and Kristin Scott Thomas, his friend's wife. The subplot consists of another love story beween Juilet Bench, a nurse and Naveen Andrews, a Sikh minesweeper in the British Army. Though the 2 love stories are in different times, both of them unfold together as the film progresses. The main plot is brought out through flashbacks of the english patient, Ralph himself. The 3rd element which works in parallel is the relationship between Juliet and Ralph. Juliet who loses her dear one whenever she goes too close to them, struggles to keep her patient alive. There's one more subplot of Willem Dafeo's revenge, but that doesn't add to the story much. The film is beautifully shot. Its a visual treat for anyone who likes exotic landscapes. The acting, direction and background score are all good, but its the combination of these elements that has a synergetic effect to make this film so wonderful to watch. So I feel this film deserved the Oscar for best film, but the best actor and actress I'm sure went to someone more deserving.