Films of this ilk can often leaver a viewer cold, it’s award-baiting laid bare, leaving a bad taste that stops you from truly immersing yourself in the story. Minghella’s own “Cold Mountain” is a case in point. But here we have a film that may well have suffered some backlash since it swept the awards due to attempts to mimic its success. Yet, this is a film that remains utterly enthralling throughout. The structure of the story, told in flashbacks, adds an air of mystery as to who exactly the titular patient is and how he became horribly burnt. But it is the performances of Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas that form the centrepiece of a beautifully compelling love affair. They have wonderful natural chemistry together and every scene they share together leaves you wanting more, despite the resolution being known from the beginning. It's a testament to the confidence in these performances that the filmmakers never try to soften the harder edges of Fiennes' character. If the present day plot that the film alternates between can’t quite match this, it is still a nice parallel to events from the past as each character confronts their personal losses and tries to come to terms with them, and both Juliette Binoche and Naveen Andrews are great. Only Dafoe’s character feels a little superfluous to the film, good though he is. The score is achingly romantic and the cinematography is stunning.
