Anthony Minghella

I did not realize until yesterday, hearing the sad news of Anthony Minghella's untimely and unexpected death, that he was the director and writer of two of my favorite films: The English Patient (for which he wrote the screenplay of the Michael Ondaatje novel, and won the Best Director Oscar; and, yes, I did know he had directed that one) and the funny, intelligent and deeply moving Truly, Madly, Deeply. I'd never made a connection between the two before. Minghella has been quoted as saying he found that was not a film director, but a writer who could direct films that he had written.

I hope that, somewhere, Mr. Minghella is reading great books, writing phenomenal screenplays, and watching classic movies on video.

Nina: "I can't believe I have a bunch of dead people watching videos in my living room." [Truly, Madly, Deeply]