The Author and Director

Anthony Minghella & Michael Ondaatje

Ondaatje "When I was a child films felt like wondrous news and emotion from another planet. When I became a writer I continued to love films because they were completely different from books. A film was closer to the simulated excitement of a soccer stadium while books were a meditative and private act - you sat down to read one or write one and the first thing you did was ignore the rest of the world."

"What is most interesting to me about the film now is how scenes and emotions and values from the book emerged in new ways, were re-invented, were invented with totally new moments, and fit within a dramatic arc that was different from the arc of the book."

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"....I felt constantly at the edge of myself..." Anthony Minghella describing the challenges of making The English Patient.

"Tribalism is killing us...." Anthony Minghella talking about one of the main themes of the film.

"...they're boiling...a sort of lava..." Anthony Minghella on the love between Almásy and Katharine.

"....it's about the spirit being able to survive...." Michael Ondaatje and Anthony Minghella talking about Hana's and Kip's relationship, and Hana's journey in the film.

"...I am a man who fasts until I see what I want..." Michael Ondaatje on Almásy.

"....absolutely meticulous in the way he prepares..." Anthony Minghella talking about Ralph Fiennes.

"Juliette is so true as an actor, and so transparent..." Anthony Minghella on directing Juliette Binoche.

"Who gave you the most unexpected performance?"Anthony answers the question posed to him by interviewer Charlie Rose, and compares his two leading actresses.