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The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)

R  |   |  Drama, Romance  |  5 February 1988 (USA)
7.4
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Ratings: 7.4/10 from 25,270 users  
Reviews: 131 user | 49 critic

In 1968, a Czech doctor with an active sex life meets a woman who wants monogamy, and then the Soviet invasion further disrupts their lives.

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(novel), (screenplay), 1 more credit »
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Title: The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)

The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988) on IMDb 7.4/10

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Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 11 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
Franz
...
The Ambassador
Pavel Landovský ...
Pavel
...
Chief Surgeon
...
Interior Ministry Official
...
The Engineer
Tomasz Borkowy ...
Jiri (as Tomek Bork)
Bruce Myers ...
Czech Editor
Pavel Slabý ...
Pavel's Nephew
Pascale Kalensky ...
Nurse Katja
Jacques Ciron ...
Swiss Restaurant Manager
Anne Lonnberg ...
Swiss Photographer
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Storyline

Tomas is a doctor and a lady-killer in 1960s Czechoslovakia, an apolitical man who is struck with love for the bookish country girl Tereza; his more sophisticated sometime lover Sabina eventually accepts their relationship and the two women form an electric friendship. The three are caught up in the events of the Prague Spring (1968), until the Soviet tanks crush the non-violent rebels; their illusions are shattered and their lives change forever. Written by Dan Hartung <dhartung@mcs.com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

A Lovers Story.

Genres:

Drama | Romance

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

5 February 1988 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

La insoportable levedad del ser  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$10,006,806 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Lena Olin, she met co-star Daniel Day-Lewis on her first day on the set and, according to the schedule, had to do one of the film's most intense nude love scenes with him that very day. See more »

Goofs

When Tereza is challenged in the bar by the drunken youth, the bottle of Orange disappears and then reappears. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
First Title Card: In Prague, in 1968, there lived a young doctor named Tomas...
Tomas: Take off your clothes.
[line recurs several times during film]
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Twisted (2004) See more »

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User Reviews

Previous reviewer misunderstood movie...
21 July 2003 | by (New York) – See all my reviews

I would have to disagree with the previous reviewer. First of all, the movie should have a "euro" feel to it because it's about Europeans, in Europe, and their European mentality. No car chases here, hot shot. That being said, I only have great praise for this film. It's a tremendous attempt to put to screen the subtle understanding Milan Kundera has of the human condition, and it surprisingly succeeds. For those more interested, I recommend you pick up some of his novels (start with a short story if you are pressed for time) and you, too, will realize why he is one of the best storytellers alive today.


34 of 58 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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Awful, bad, horrible movie. schtrunfe
I've heard DDL say... chizdippler
ONCE AGAIN: the ending - plothole? wim_mols
Judging the movie on its own merit... sabika-angelz
Kundera's thoughts? JellybeanJack
READ THE BOOK! chelsea_104
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