I found myself rewatching The English Patient after a really long time. No doubt it is a beautifully shot film with a superb cast; one of the few films that does the book it is based on justice. The romantic in me still sighed the way I did all those years ago when I first saw the movie. However, the middle-aged wise woman in me began questioning the film. I could not help wonder whether Katherine and Almasy would have fallen for each other if they were not so good looking; after all pudgy Colin Firth was really no match for lean Ralph Fiennes. Moreover, I was wondering what sort of love was this--it seemed just physical, where was the meeting of minds? Clearly, at this stage of my life I realise that good looks are great but more attractive would be a keen mind, (with the added bonus of being packaged in a gorgeous body); a sentiment best summed up by a favourite character of mine--Dr Yang: "Oh, screw beautiful. I'm brilliant. If you want to appease me, compliment my brain".
