MovieChat Forums > The English Patient (1996) Discussion > Are we meant to have sympathy/empathy fo...

Are we meant to have sympathy/empathy for the leads

posted 12 years ago by StrontiumAE
9 replies | jump to latest

This is considered as a chick flick romance... but the story was about how an adulterous affair kills four friends... contributes to an entire country being invaded, somewhat... and leads to the torture and deaths of random people who only happen to be loosely connected to the couple. Yet despite all the crap that happens over the 3 hours of the film, we are still meant to feel sympathy for these guys coz one dies in a cave cold, hungry and alone and the other has his body burnt to a crisp and as a result suffers a long drawn out and painful death?

The film, albeit a vision of beauty to watch, was confused in its portrayal of its characters.

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[–] sarizonana 12 years ago

I think is

Both felt in love and were attracted to each other since very beginning.
You feel sad of their fate because at the end Almasi did everything he could to rescue Katherine and even tough all the things that happened to them were an accident he still felt guilty for it.

At the end we see he betrayed his friends for the woman he loved.

On a very different level it's like Paris and Helen of Troy.
Both knew they shouldn't be together because their love would cost the one of the biggest wars but still decided to together.

[–] StrontiumAE 12 years ago

Yes, it is a tragic love story... but both of the characters seemed so selfish. Over and over again, they are only thinking about themselves. They know the husband suspects, but continue the affair. The wife makes little attempt to quell her lust. While the guy kills a random kid soldier and sells important documents to the Nazi's just to get back to her. Whats one life over an other? They both show little remorse for their actions, and are more concerned with the fact that they cant be with each other.

Maybe the book is more clearer, and showed that there was indeed some strong emotional soul searching involved when the husband died and the other guy shot himself, but in the film... the primary regret seemed focused on the fact that two cant be together anymore.

http://1971prod.com 1971 Productions ya'll.

[–] sarizonana 12 years ago

Well I haven't read the book but the performances and chemistry between Ralph Fiennes and KST made me root for them.

Maybe my reason is shallow but the way they looked at each other and the way they kissed made me believe that they were very in love.
And Almasi did everything he could to save her.

He wouldn't have given those maps if the place he went the soldiers before would have helped him and wouldn't have taken him as prisoner in that train.
He loved Katherine very much and did everything he could to be with her again.

[–] morningsidemary 12 years ago

But the fact is she died a hideous death because of that love, as well he knew.

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[–] sarizonana 12 years ago

He still tried to avoid that death for her.
He could have stayed by her side and till someone came to their rescue but he tried to go for help as fast as he could.

[–] morningsidemary 12 years ago

Getting involved with her in the first place sentenced her. His recklessness ultimately killed her.

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[–] sarizonana 12 years ago

Both knew their attraction was not ok and tried to avoid it but they couldn't do it.
Their feelings for each other were too strong.

[–] Maddyclassicfilms 12 years ago

I think that's the point we're not supposed to feel good about their affair but we are supposed to sympathise with their plight.It's a case of their heart/lust ruled their heads,they couldn't help themselves and there was a cost to themselves and others.

Personally I hate Katherine,she is selfish and cold and Almasy emotionally damaged,but I still feel for them and love the film a great deal.A sweeping,beautiful love story harking back to the classic era.

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[–] sarizonana 12 years ago

I think that's the point we're not supposed to feel good about their affair but we are supposed to sympathise with their plight.It's a case of their heart/lust ruled their heads,they couldn't help themselves and there was a cost to themselves and others

Agree with this we all know that what they were doing was so wrong because Geoffrey was a nice but still you can't blame them because they loved each other and we know they tried to avoid that affair at Almasi did so at the beginning.

Personally I hate Katherine,she is selfish and cold and Almasy emotionally damaged,but I still feel for them and love the film a great deal.A sweeping,beautiful love story harking back to the classic era.

Here I disagree a bitt with you
I didn't hate Katherine she was a woman who found true love too late and felt guilty of what she was doing to Geoffrey and Almasi more than emotionally damaged he wasn't used to be attached to someone but when he couldn't deny what he felt for Catherine he did everything for the woman he loved.

But I agree with you about the movie being a very beautiful and tragic love story.