Bring on the tough stuff. There’s not just one right answer.
- Why is the story told the way it is (with many flashbacks) instead of in chronological order? How does the movie handle its flashbacks, and the constant shifting in time? Is it confusing or easy to follow?
- The English Patient is a long movie with a near-three-hour running time. Why is it so long? Is it too long? Are there scenes you would cut? Is there anything you would like to see more of, making the movie even longer?
- How do the settings—like the desert, or the dilapidated monastery—add to the mood of the film?
- What has each main character lost during the war? How are they able to heal in the monastery?
- What classic films (like Casablanca) do you think inspired The English Patient? In what ways does The English Patient feel like a classic Hollywood picture? In what ways is it modern?
- Why do you think The English Patient won Best Picture in 1996, beating Fargo, Jerry Maguire, Secrets & Lies, and Shine? Is The English Patient the best picture of that group? Which films from this category do people still remember today, and why?
- Have you read the novel? How is the movie different from the novel on which it is based? Why does Minghella reorganize the plot in his screenplay? Why are some scenes added, and others removed?