"I really ought to drag myself outside, but then there'd be the sun."

Rating: 10/10 (18 February 2016)

The English Patient is proof that films should be judged on merit and content alone, rather than on how the public perceives them. I feel very much the same about this film as I do about How Green Was My Valley; audiences love to trash that film because it beat out Citizen Kane for Best Picture in 1941. Citizen Kane was an astounding movie; so much about knowledge about filmmaking was expressed through that film that directors still use today. Citizen Kane is often touted as the best movie of all time and constantly listed as prominent actor and director's favorite films, providing a source of inspiration. As good as Citizen Kane is, and I agree that it's phenomenal, so is How Green Was My Valley. I have exactly this same kinship to The English Patient. I have heard many people express disdain for this film for a variety of reasons, namely, though, for beating Fargo for best picture in 1996. I have yet to see Fargo, however, The English Patient starring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, and Kristin Scott Thomas was a sensational film directed by Anthony Minghella, and more than deserving of every award it received from the Academy.
The English Patient opens in 1944 in war-torn Italy. Hanna (Juliette Binoche) is a nurse working in a mobile medical unit who truly puts her heart in her work, yet, unfortunately, watches many of the patients that she grows attached to succumb to their wounds. Traveling along the treacherous land heavily armed with explosives, Hanna volunteers to stay behind in an abandoned church to care for a dying Englishman, Count Laszlo de Almásy (Ralph Fiennes) badly burned, and partially amnesiac. It is just the two of them until a Canadian member of the Intelligence Service arrives. The Canadian, David Caravaggio (Willem Dafoe), is certain he knows who the burned patient is and believes he has cooperated with the Germans. David believes the patient's amnesia is a farce, and rather that he is running from his past. After the accusation, the patient begins to open up about his past and reveal his struggles. A beautiful story of love amongst so much hate begins to unfold and the audience is fortunate enough to be along for the ride.
There are so many wonderful things about this film, I don't even know where to begin. The cinematography in this film is something to treasure. Beautiful shots of desert landscape make wonderful art for the audience to enjoy. The film is scored so subtly and beautifully you nearly forget there's a score until you hear the music at precisely the right time in the film. The storytelling in this film was also exceptionally well-done. I quite enjoy stories told largely through flashbacks. Witnessing the two parallel lives play out on screen was a great experience and added a lot of depth to the film; especially considering how well-done the director accomplished the feat. The pacing and character development were well-executed, keeping the audience engrossed through the final scene. With so many superb aspects of this film, it is a true disappointment that more people don't give The English Patient a viewing.
I reserve the final section of my reviews for audiences I would recommend this film to, but I don't know of anyone that wouldn't gain something from this film. The English Patient was such a remarkable film and doesn't get the credit it deserves so I would love for anyone to watch it at least once. I've plum run out of adjectives to describe how great of an experience this was. I was not expecting to get anything out of this film before I watched it and I am so glad to report that I couldn't have been more wrong. If you're not busy tonight, and you don't mind investing nearly 3 hours, do yourself a favor and watch The English Patient.