Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Theatrical Release: 02/05/1988(USA)
Release Date: 02/07/2006
SubTitles: English/French/Espanol
Dubbed: English/French
Sound: DDS
Run Time: 172 Minutes
Flags: Nudity, Strong Sexual Content, Not For Children
Distributor/Studio: Warner Home Video

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

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Cast:
Daniel Day-Lewis - Tomas
Juliette Binoche - Tereza
Lena Olin - Sabina
Derek de Lint - Franz
Erland Josephson - The Ambassador
Donald Moffat - Chief Surgeon
Pavel Landovsky - Pavel
Daniel Olbrychski - Interior Ministry Official
Stellan Skarsgård - The Engineer

Production:
Philip Kaufman - Director
Saul Zaentz - Producer
Mark Adler Keith Richards Ernie Fosselius - Composer
Stephen A. Rotter Vivian Hillgrove Gilliam B.J. Sears - Editor
Jean-Claude Carrière Philip Kaufman - Screen Writer
Gerard Viard - Art Director
Paul Zaentz - Associate Producer
Dianne Crittenden - Casting
Margot Capelier - Casting
Sven Nykvist - Cinematographer
Ann Roth - Costume Designer
Bertil Ohlsson - Executive Producer
Leos Janácek - Featured Music
Eric Bartonio - First Assistant Director
Suzanne Benoit - Makeup
Pierre Guffroy - Production Designer
Alan Splet - Sound/Sound Designer
Chris Newman - Sound/Sound Designer
Trielli Brothers - Special Effects
Remy Julienne - Stunts
Walter Murch - Supervising Editor
Milan Kundera - Book Author

Bliss [WS/P&S]
    Craig Sheffer / R / 1996
The Center of the World
    Peter Sarsgaard / R / 2001
A Short Film About Love
    Olaf Lubaszenko / 1988
Enemies, A Love Story
    Ron Silver / R / 1989
An Affair of Love
    Nathalie Baye / R / 1999
Before the Rain [Criterion Collection]
    Katrin Cartlidge / NR / 1994
Jules et Jim [2 Discs] [Criterion Collection]
    Jeanne Moreau / 1962
Damage
    Jeremy Irons / NR/R / 1992
Too Beautiful for You
    Gérard Depardieu / R / 1989
Henry & June
    Maria de Medeiros / NC17 / 1990
Quartet
    Alan Bates / R / 1981
All My Good Countrymen
    Vladimir Mensik / 1968

1988 American Society of Cinematographers

1988 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie

1989 British Academy of Film and Television

1988 Independent Spirit Awards

1988 Golden Globe

1988 National Board of Review