New York State Writers Institute - Classic Film Series

THE ENGLISH PATIENT Winner of 9 Academy Awards, including Best Picture March 1, 2000 (Wednesday) at 7:00 p.m. Page Hall, 135 Western Avenue (Free and Open to the Public) (American, 1996, 160 minutes, color, 35mm) Directed by Anthony Minghella Starring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, Kristin Scott Thomas, Naveen Andrews

This poetic film of lost memory and doomed love is based on the prize-winning novel of the same name by Michael Ondaatje. A horribly-burned man, too ill to be moved, is left in an Italian monastery during the last days of World War II. A nurse, herself scarred by the long war, sets up a makeshift hospital to care for the "English patient," and helps him regain his memory.

Michael Ondaatje will provide film commentary and answer questions immediately following the screening. Ondaatje and Linda Spalding will present a joint reading from their work on Thursday, March 2 at 8:00 p.m. in Page Hall.