The Unbearable Lightness of Being

The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1987)

Genres - Drama, Romance  |   Sub-Genres - Erotic Drama, Marriage Drama, Political Drama  |   Release Date - Feb 5, 1988 (USA)  |   Run Time - 172 min.  |   Countries - United States  |   MPAA Rating - R
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson

In Philip Kaufman's surprisingly successful film adaptation of Czech author Milan Kundera's demanding 1984 best-seller, Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Tomas, an overly amorous Prague surgeon, while Juliette Binoche plays Tereza, the waiflike beauty whom he marries. Even though he's supposedly committed, Tomas continues his wanton womanizing, notably with his silken mistress Sabina (Lena Olin). Escaping the 1968 Russian invasion of Prague by heading for Geneva, Sabina takes up with another man and unexpectedly develops a friendship with Tereza. Meanwhile, Tomas, who previously was interested only in sex, becomes politicized by the collapse of Czechoslovakia's Dubcek regime. The Unbearable Lightness of Being may be too leisurely for some viewers, but other viewers may feel the same warm sense of inner satisfaction that is felt after finishing a good, long novel.

Characteristics

Keywords

demonstration [political], doctor/nurse, extramarital-affair, invasion, love, love-triangle, photography, politician, riot [uprising], romance, writing

Attributes

High Artistic Quality, High Production Values