MovieChat Forums > The English Patient (1996) Discussion > Converstions totally Unrealistic

Converstions totally Unrealistic

posted 13 years ago by lamont-hard
12 replies | jump to latest

Some of Katherine and Almasy's conversations were a bit unrealistic. I can't believe how casual they were about some very serious situations. This went on every time they were just making small talk.

For example, One of things she tells the lover was she loved her husband and this is when she has just slept with and while bathing her lover, then says she hates lies of course this was what she was doing with the affair. As i watched it I kept thinking how shallow she was, not from the affair but just her demeanor was not of a woman with class she was supposed to be.

This i found took some of the sting out of this beautiful love story with her not seeming sincere in some of her scenes and bit to flighty.

Another scene witch was poorly written was after the plain crash the dialog was again just not up to par they concentrated way to much on the lovers but some of it did not work because they would rush or pan over the rest of the scenes leading up to them. Just how would a woman in a situation where after her plane crashes and her husband whom she decided to stay with tries to kill the lover, her and himself while saying he loves her as the plain crashes, moments after this happens she says, I know he is dead, he must have known all along about us, [witch would have been easy the way she was going about the affair]. Nothing else said about him.

The dialog was very good with her and Almasy's scenes but they had plenty And I mean plenty of time to make the rest of the movie tie in better than this. They went to such trouble with her pain of the betrayal but gave the situation very little dialog to make it seem true she would proclaim her love for Jeffrey but in the next scene she could care less for him by her actions.

[–] Rob4001 13 years ago

The fact they were very open with each about thorny issues shows how strong their connection was.

She said she hated lies because she was having to lie to her husband, not because she didn't like being lied to per se.

Finally though i haven't seen that scene for a while. She largely went back with her husband through feelings of guilt, and probably feelings that it was the safest thing to do for her life (don't rock the boat). She didn't choose her husband over Almasy on anywhere near a level playing field or because of compatibility necessarily, it didn't meant she suddenly adored her husband again. So i don't think an extensive dialog after her husband who had just tried to kill her was essential, especially as the audience (Almasy) would probably not appreciate it.

btw...

plain = bare field of grass
plane = flying machine

witch = women who can perform magical spells and fly on a broomstick
which = pronoun used for sentence structuring

could care less = nonsensical phrase Americans use
couldn't care less = i care so little about this situation, that it is impossible for me to physically care less

[–] lamont-hard 13 years ago

I disagree, there was a scene of why she loved him, It was basically saying she and he were best friends and it grew to love she had a very casual and endearing type of love that suited her perfectly he let her be herself and be a independent women he trusted her. In When she wanted him to take her home this was the life she truly loved.

On Almasy, he was a jealous and controlling person who would have questioned her on her who what and where's confining and smothering her in turn not making her happy in the long run. Remember in the beginning of the film when he says to Geoffrey you should not leave your wife with other men...Also when she was dancing with another man he was asking her why were you so close to him.

So yes, maybe it was the safest choice but certainly not out of guilt. She experienced a love of a life time though it was best left at a memory.

On them being able to say anything to each other I still don't think you talk about loving your husband while bathing with your lover, seems unrealistic.

[–] Rob4001 13 years ago

Almasy appeared controlling and jealous because he felt used by her. She had got involved in something that they clearly both enjoyed and was unwilling to go all the way.

There was definitely an element of guilt, no doubt about it.

[–] lamont-hard 13 years ago

I am not trying to start a back and forth i am enjoying talking about this film and discussing it with you. Having said that, in my opinion he was very controlling and jealous his actions did not seem to me the actions of a man who felt she may never be his own, But that of a man who could not stand to see her with another man. He could not care less what she was going through as she told him this. He never thought to give her some space and let her decide. He forced her into a love of misery and guilt her husband was an easy choice. She told him she loved her husband so how how was it so automatic she would leave him she explained to him what her husband meant to her. He felt used because he may have not been able to accept loosing her.

[–] Rob4001 13 years ago

Why does she deserve sympathy when it was entirely self inflicted? Almasy was going through hell as well because of her. She had led him on and now was not committing.

Actions speak louder than words and to Almasy cheating on her husband was more telling than saying she loved him. Almasy was convinced that she would be better off with him and he was trying to seal the deal as there are no prizes for being runner up.

The jealousy is natural for anyone in that situation and half the point in the story is about exploring the kinds of loves and emotions that people go through in certain situations.

[–] lamont-hard 13 years ago

Very good points, I still maintain Almasy was controlling and very jealous these traits do not disappear over night. I feel the time he tracked her down and sexed her up [the Christmas event} she was turned on by desires, which is easy to do with a horny woman, but her first thought to me seemed to be I will comply if nothing but to get rid of you, she was tormented.

Having an lustful affair full of love and great sex does not mean to every woman that her obligations and commitments to being a mans wife is something of lesser importance. At the beginning of the film Almasy could not believe it when he asked her husband why would he leave his wife with men he said he trusted her. I doubt if almasy would ever trust her in this same situation after all this is how he got her so he will obviously feel she will do him the same way and he is probably right.

Maybe we both are right because this guys controlling/jealous side is well mixed into his great talker/romantic side It's that some never saw the other side because maybe it just never registered. I only noticed these things after viewing this film for a third time in five years. By the third time i watched this movie I was interested in other aspects of it and low and behold I saw Almasy in a totally different light. and also paid attention to the husband side closer than than the previous two times. It is still just as great a movie when viewed from the side i have explained in this thread. In both versions of how I looked at this film the only time I felt a true Almasy was after the plain crash I feel he knew he pushed to hard and was responsible for her death and her husbands as he tells her he is sorry and she excepted it.

[–] Rob4001 13 years ago

>>>Having an lustful affair full of love and great sex does not mean to every woman that her obligations and commitments to being a mans wife is something of lesser importance.<<<

Nonsense.

Having an affair is the ultimate thing you can do to undermine your commitment to your partner. Anyone who thinks this is not the case is a supremely amoral person.

This is a flaw in your thought process that seems to want to paint Katherine as virtuous in a number of recent threads.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] lamont-hard 13 years ago

You say.....Having an affair is the ultimate thing you can do to undermine your commitment to your partner. Anyone who thinks this is not the case is a supremely amoral person.....I am saying she is a woman who is her own person and that is what she chooses. Her husband let her be who she wanted he[Almasy would never let her be as she was] did you see the same movie? I had no issues as she found her groove with almasy as she had an affair and to me was not sorry it happened, but in the end it was more than she returns to Geofrey out of guilt, one can see something like guilt as you say [she had already crossed the line]if this were the case that she would get past it if she really wanted Almasy. Her and her husband had a history of best friends to a married life and she was happy with it. That is what viewers forget he almasy awakened a spirit of sexuality in her that did not override her love for the life she had. Just because it was great passionate sex not mean it's permanently good for you as we all saw how jealous and controlling he was. Add it all up and one can see why she would not choose Almasy. One last point, having an passion filled affair to some women does not mean you have to abandon your commitment. He may have been better as a memory of love lost as she lived out her life.

[–] manofsteel4455 12 years ago

unrealistic?lol You young people never have any idea what you're talking about do you?

You want to play the game, you'd better know the rules, love.
-Harry Callahan

[–] lamont-hard 12 years ago

You should elaborate what you feel i don't know what I am talking about in this thread.

[–] whoiamnow 8 years ago

I disagree. When two people are having an affair, you already know the worst thing about a person- that they are unfaithful. At this point, there is absolutely no reason to pretend or to hide your feelings. It some ways, it's the most honest you can be with and about yourself.

(Consider a review site if you don't want spoilers. This is a DISCUSSION board.)