Film

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

1988 · 2h 51m · Drama · Romance

A lovers’ story.

IMDb

7.2

Rotten Tomatoes

86%

Metacritic

73

Successful surgeon Tomas leaves Prague for an operation, meets a young photographer named Tereza, and brings her back with him. Tereza is surprised to learn that Tomas is already having an affair with the bohemian Sabina, but when the Soviet invasion occurs, all three flee to Switzerland. Sabina begins an affair, Tom continues womanizing, and Tereza, disgusted, returns to Czechoslovakia. Realizing his mistake, Tomas decides to chase after her.

Daniel Day-Lewis

Tomas

Juliette Binoche

Tereza

Lena Olin

Sabina

Derek de Lint

Franz

Stellan Skarsgård

The Engineer

Erland Josephson

The Ambassador

Pavel Landovský

Pavel

Donald Moffat

Chief Surgeon

Daniel Olbrychski

Interior Ministry Official

Tomasz Borkowy

Jiri

Bruce Myers

Czech Editor

Pavel Slabý

Pavel's Nephew

Pascale Kalensky

Nurse Katja

Jacques Ciron

Swiss Restaurant Manager

Anne Lonnberg

Swiss Photographer

László Szabó

Russian Interrogator

• Philip KaufmanDirector · Screenplay
• Jean-Claude CarrièreScreenplay
• Milan KunderaNovel
• Saul ZaentzProducer
• Bertil OhlssonExecutive Producer
• Sven NykvistDirector of Photography
• Mark AdlerOriginal Music Composer
• Vivien HillgroveEditor
• Michael MagillEditor
• Walter MurchEditor

The Unbearable Lightness of Being trailer

Release date

February 5, 1988

Status

Released

Original language

English

Runtime

2h 51m

Rated

R

Budget

$17,000,000

Revenue

$10,000,000

Genres

Drama, Romance

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