ADRIENNE CLARKSON PRESENTS: BLACK AND WHITE TO COLOUR: THE MAKING OF THE ENGLISH PATIENT (TV)
Summary
One in this series of cultural entertainment programs presented by Adrienne Clarkson. This episode focuses on the making of the 1996 film "The English Patient," adapted from the 1992 novel of the same name by Michael Ondaatje. Clarkson explains that the romantic drama film, set in Italy and Egypt shortly before and after World War II, has so far earned two Golden Globe awards and twelve Academy Award nominations. The actors comment on their interest in the novel and reasons for joining the film, which unites five very different strangers and revolves around the mysterious identity of the titular character. A scene is filmed at a hotel in Venice as director/screenwriter Anthony Minghella comments on the novel's visual, cinematic style. Kristin Scott Thomas, who plays Katherine Clifton, explains how she fell in love with the character and was determined to secure the role. She adds that Minghella "manipulates" his actors in a positive way, and Ralph Fiennes (Count László Almásy) agrees that he is "gentle but firm" as a director. As the crew works on a complicated crane shot outside of the hotel, Minghella notes that he abandoned the book and tried to "reimagine" the story in writing the screenplay, though Ondaatje is often present on set for "moral support." Thomas comments on her love of experimenting creatively on camera, and choreographer Carolyn Choa guides Thomas and Fiennes through a "small but intense" dance scene.
In the hills of Tuscany, designer Stuart Craig discusses the visual contrasts between the pre- and post-war scenes in Italy and in the desert. Juliette Binoche (Hana) and Naveen Andrews (Kip) work on a scene (ultimately deleted from the final film) involving a trip wire and a possible explosive, and Minghella explains how all actors are different and require specific methods of direction, noting Binoche's love of authenticity. He discusses a pivotal kissing scene with the two actors, pondering the characters' feelings in a moment in which they believe they may die. Craig comments on the challenges of shooting on location versus in a studio, and Minghella notes the difficulties of filming complex scenes, including one involving an automobile explosion, with a multilingual crew. Willem Dafoe (David Caravaggio) comments on the strength of the characters in the story, all of whom are "damaged" and work to heal one another. At 5:00 A.M., many extras in carefully-styled period wear prepare for a ballroom scene, though cinematographer John Seale explains that the scene is really about the private conversation between Katherine and Almásy as they dance together. Ondaatje explains how both of the main characters are positioned as "outsiders" in the Cairo community at different points in the story, and Fiennes comments that he views Almásy as a "bird of prey," while Thomas adds that Katherine's ordered life is changed dramatically by her association with the count.
Ondaatje explains how he "stole" the name of a real person for his main character and created a fictional story around him. The crew braves the cold desert weather to shoot a sandstorm scene that will last for mere seconds onscreen, but requires hours of careful work and high insurance costs to create. Producer Saul Zaentz states that he is sure that the film will be a good one, but is still unsure about the audience's reaction. Clarkson, however, explains that the film has indeed been very well-received by viewers, adding that Ondaatje has been "hiding away" in Europe as of late, but will likely attend the upcoming Academy Awards along with the cast and crew. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBC (Canada)
- DATE: November 21, 1996
- RUNNING TIME: 0:56:37
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:57091
- GENRE: Documentary
- SUBJECT HEADING: International Collection - Canada; Documentary; Filmmaking
- SERIES RUN: CBC - TV series, 1988-1999
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Adrienne Clarkson … Executive Producer, Director
- Patricia Smith-Strom … Senior Producer
- Peggy Shkuda … Producer, Director
- Temp Archibald … Technical Producer
- Adrienne Clarkson … Host
- Michael Ondaatje … Interviewee
- Anthony Minghella … Interviewee
- Saul Zaentz … Interviewee
- John Seale … Interviewee
- Ralph Fiennes … Interviewee
- Kristin Scott Thomas … Interviewee
- Carolyn Choa … Interviewee
- Stuart Craig … Interviewee
- Juliette Binoche … Interviewee
- Naveen Andrews … Interviewee
- Willem Dafoe … Interviewee