Not Only a Love Story, But Also a Historical Epic

Rating: 10/10 (16 June 2014)

The English Patient tells the story of the Hungarian Count Almásy (Ralph Fiennes) and his affair with the married British Katharine Clifton (Kristin Scott-Thomas) short before the Second World War when Almásy helps the British with expeditions around Egypt.
This story is, however, told in flashbacks. At the beginning of the movie we see Almásy crash with a plane what leads to burnings all over his body. Almásy temporary loses his memory and is taken care of by the Canadian nurse Hana (Juliette Binoche) with whom he shares his returning memories.
Nevertheless, The English Patient is not just about this romance. It also makes us aware of the problems of failed communication and of seeing the world only as hostile nationalities.
The movie's cast, which combines famous names like Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott-Thomas, Juliette Binoche, Colin Forth or Willem Dafoe, is sublime.
Fiennes and Scott-Thomas share absolutely great chemistry. Scott-Thomas shows wonderful passion and eroticism, especially with her eyes and Fiennes gives probably one of his most memorable performances. Juliette Binoche is like the emotional center of the movie. She gives a warm, joyous, but also fragile performance that is wonderful to watch.
The performances as well as the epic shots, a brilliant score and a passionate screenplay turn this movie in one of today's epic masterpieces which shouldn't only been watched because of its romantic love story but also because of its important historical background.