The Unbearable Lightness of Being
-
Showtimes
-
Movie Details
We didn't find this title in your area
Videos & Photos
- Official Trailer (02:25)
Movie Info & Cast
Synopsis
In Philip Kaufman's surprisingly successful film adaptation of Czech author Milan Kundera's demanding 1984 bestseller, 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.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Cast
- Daniel Day-Lewis
- Juliette Binoche
- Lena Olin
- Derek de Lint
- Erland Josephson
- Pavel Landovský
- Donald Moffat
- Daniel Olbrychski
- Stellan Skarsgard
Letterboxd User Reviews
3.7
43.0K
17.2K
9.7K
- Aug 11, 2019
daniel day-lewis has been alive for 62 slutty, slutty years
cowboyFeb 28, 2017daniel day-lewis is rly good at staring at people
madyDec 11, 2021The Unbearable Hotness of Daniel Day-Lewis
Frances Meh - Sep 20, 2025
"Hey, I'm not the smartest guy in the world, but I'm certainly not the dumbest. I mean, I've read books like 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' and 'Love in the Time of Cholera', and I think I've understood them. They're about girls, right?"
David SimsMar 23, 2019there's a pig named mephisto
jacobSep 12, 2021Criterion Collection Spine #55 Is it more fulfilling to live a life of noncommittal freedom, or become weighed down by various obligations and securities? "I know I'm supposed to help you, but I can't. Instead of being your support I'm your weight. Life is very…
Justin Peterson - May 2, 2021
when daniel day lewis dies i’m going to come out as a lesbian
bellaJun 16, 2020I wish Daniel Day-Lewis would tell me to take off my clothes.
CamilaAug 11, 2016The Unbearable Lightness of Being made me come to the realization that Daniel Day-Lewis is perhaps one of, if not the, greatest actor of our time. From transformative performances like My Left Foot and Lincoln to revolutionary masterworks like There Will Be Blood, there…
Wesley R. Ball
Queue Community Reviews
79%
Community 405
Top Reviews
- Pami lovedThe Unbearable Lightness of Being
I haven't read the book but i genuinely love this movie
DeDee3 is "meh" onThe Unbearable Lightness of BeingNot like the book!!
Leonard Zelig lovedThe Unbearable Lightness of BeingSolid classic
Atom Users Reviews
Metacritic
There is a lot of nudity in the film but no pornographic documentary quality; the camera does not linger, or move for the best view, or relish the spectacle of nudity. The result is some of the most poignant, almost sad, sex scenes I have ever seen - sensuous, yes, but bittersweet.
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Mr. Day-Lewis, Miss Binoche and Miss Olin (who was spectacular in Ingmar Bergman's ''After the Rehearsal'') are surprisingly fine -both modest and intense as lovers whose private lives are defined by public events.
Vincent Canby
The New York Times
For all its real achievements, including a stomach-clutching re-creation of the Soviet invasion of Prague, and for all its uncoy acknowledgment of the power of sexuality, the film ultimately adds up to the unbearable heaviness of movie-making.
Sheila Benson
Los Angeles Times
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as R, meaning that Under 17 requires an adult accompaniment.
How long is The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)?
The movie is 2hr 51min long.
What's The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988) about?
In Philip Kaufman's surprisingly successful film adaptation of Czech author Milan Kundera's demanding 1984 bestseller, 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.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Who's the cast of The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)?
- Daniel Day-Lewis as Tomas
- Juliette Binoche as Tereza
- Lena Olin as Sabina
- Derek de Lint as Franz
- Erland Josephson as Ambassador
- Pavel Landovský as Pavel
- Donald Moffat as Chief Surgeon
- Daniel Olbrychski as Interior Ministry Official
- Stellan Skarsgard as The Engineer
Who's the director behind The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)?
Philip Kaufman directed The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988).
Who produced The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)?
Bertil Ohlsson and Saul Zaentz produced The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988).
Full Screen Image Viewer
Target Exclusive Showing
Don't Have The Password?