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Parents' Guide to

The English Patient

By Sarah Orrick, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Stunning, complex mature emotional drama.

Movie R 1996 160 minutes
The English Patient Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 1 parent review

RenataAnsaca
RenataAnsaca Adult
March 23, 2012
age 14+

English Patient

This movie is one of my favorites. Ralph Fiennes perfectly conveys an unhappy man unhappily in love with someone else's wife at the start of the war. It's not a love story per-say, but definately has a star-crossed lovers theme you can feel through the screen. Meanwhile, there is some gore and some sex, involving a character getting his thumbs lopped off in an interrogation room, and adulterate intercourse. You see a woman's body completely naked in a sexual manner. But it's still very much worth it for the inspiring plotline and amazing characters.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In the tradition of grand movie romances, THE ENGLISH PATIENT follows the story of an amnesic World War II burn victim (Ralph Fiennes) as his memories slowly return. In an Allied hospital, the heavily-bandaged patient (whose only identifier is his English accent) is cared for by nurse Hana (Juliette Binoche), who is drawn to the mystery man. Amidst the war-time violence, Hana tries to bring the man out of his catatonic state, and soon present events trigger the patient to recall his dangerous past, and the love he found and lost, in the North African desert.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Despite Oscar wins and high praise, THE ENGLISH PATIENT requires a certain type of viewer to appreciate its plot. There are copious flashbacks, and the often dark story unfolds slowly. Based on a novel, the film suffers from a simultaneous lack and abundance of detail. Some scenes fail to further the plot, while others need more explanation. The film could go in a million directions, but it floats through the material to arrive at an unfulfilling ending. All of this, however, is easy to overlook because the film is so visually stunning.

The supporting cast is brilliant – Juliette Binoche and Kristin Scott Thomas in particular give excellent performances, and Colin Firth leaves an indelible mark. Ralph Fiennes imparts to his character a distinct emotional distance, which works well to establish the character, but makes it hard for him to gain the viewer's sympathy, or even explain how another character falls in love with him.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about issues surrounding the physical and emotional consequences of war. What are the different responses that the characters have to death, and how do they change? What happens when convictions are treated as the truth? How is adultery portrayed in the film? What are the ramifications of adultery in the film and what might they be in real life?

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