The English Patient (1996) is a romantic war drama directed by Anthony Minghella, based on the novel of the same name by Michael Ondaatje. The film won 9 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, with outstanding performances by Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Willem Dafoe.
Set during World War II, the film tells the tragic story of a mysterious man suffering from severe burns, referred to as The English Patient. The story unfolds through a series of interwoven flashbacks that reveal his past.
In 1944, in an abandoned monastery in Italy, a Canadian nurse named Hana (Juliette Binoche) cares for a severely burned patient who remembers little about his past. Known as The English Patient, he gradually regains his memories, leading to the revelation of his true identity.
Through flashbacks, it is revealed that the patient is Count László Almásy (Ralph Fiennes), a Hungarian cartographer and explorer working for the Royal Geographical Society. Before the war, Almásy was part of a desert mapping expedition in the Sahara alongside Geoffrey Clifton (Colin Firth) and his wife, Katharine Clifton (Kristin Scott Thomas).
Almásy becomes captivated by Katharine, Geoffrey’s wife. Despite their initial restraint, their passion for each other soon leads to a passionate but illicit affair. They keep their love a secret, but Geoffrey eventually discovers the truth, leading to tragic consequences.
Consumed by jealousy and anger, Geoffrey attempts a murder-suicide by crashing his plane into Almásy’s camp. He dies instantly, while Katharine is gravely injured and left stranded in the Cave of Swimmers. Almásy, desperate to save her, embarks on a long journey on foot to find help but is arrested by British forces who mistake him for a Nazi spy. By the time he is released and returns to the cave, it is too late—Katharine has died alone.
Back in the present, Hana continues to care for Almásy while a soldier named David Caravaggio (Willem Dafoe) grows suspicious of the patient’s past. Caravaggio, once captured and tortured by the Germans due to information he believes Almásy provided, seeks revenge. However, as he learns the full extent of Almásy’s suffering, he realizes that the man has already endured enough pain and loss.
Knowing he won’t survive much longer, Almásy makes one final request to Hana: to read Katharine’s letters to him before giving him a fatal dose of morphine. Overcome with sorrow, Hana grants his request. Almásy dies peacefully, his last thoughts filled with memories of Katharine.
The film closes with Hana leaving the monastery, carrying the memories of those she loved and lost during the war.

The English Patient is not just a tragic love story but also an exploration of the devastating impact of war, the conflict between duty and desire, and the weight of past regrets. The film’s nonlinear storytelling gradually pieces together the truth, creating an emotional and immersive experience. With stunning cinematography and a hauntingly beautiful score, it remains one of the most celebrated films of all time.