Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSundance Film FestivalBest Of 2023STARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

  • 1988
  • 18
  • 2h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
38K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,180
327
Lena Olin in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
DramaRomance

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

  • Director
    • Philip Kaufman
  • Writers
    • Milan Kundera
    • Jean-Claude Carrière
    • Philip Kaufman
  • Stars
    • Daniel Day-Lewis
    • Juliette Binoche
    • Lena Olin
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    38K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,180
    327
    • Director
      • Philip Kaufman
    • Writers
      • Milan Kundera
      • Jean-Claude Carrière
      • Philip Kaufman
    • Stars
      • Daniel Day-Lewis
      • Juliette Binoche
      • Lena Olin
    • 153User reviews
    • 62Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 7 wins & 14 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Unbearable Lightness of Being
    Trailer 2:26
    Watch The Unbearable Lightness of Being

    Photos115

    Daniel Day-Lewis and Lena Olin in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
    Juliette Binoche and Daniel Day-Lewis in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
    Lena Olin in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
    Daniel Day-Lewis and Daniel Olbrychski in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
    The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
    Juliette Binoche in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
    The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
    Daniel Day-Lewis and Lena Olin in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
    Juliette Binoche and Lena Olin in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
    Juliette Binoche and Daniel Day-Lewis in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
    Juliette Binoche and Daniel Day-Lewis in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
    Lena Olin in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Daniel Day-Lewis
    Daniel Day-Lewis
    • Tomas
    Juliette Binoche
    Juliette Binoche
    • Tereza
    Lena Olin
    Lena Olin
    • Sabina
    Derek de Lint
    Derek de Lint
    • Franz
    Erland Josephson
    Erland Josephson
    • The Ambassador
    Pavel Landovský
    Pavel Landovský
    • Pavel
    • (as Pavel Landovsky)
    Donald Moffat
    Donald Moffat
    • Chief Surgeon
    Daniel Olbrychski
    Daniel Olbrychski
    • Interior Ministry Official
    Stellan Skarsgård
    Stellan Skarsgård
    • The Engineer
    • (as Stellan Skarsgard)
    Tomasz Borkowy
    • Jiri
    • (as Tomek Bork)
    Bruce Myers
    • Czech Editor
    Pavel Slabý
    • Pavel's Nephew
    • (as Pavel Slaby)
    Pascale Kalensky
    • Nurse Katya
    Jacques Ciron
    Jacques Ciron
    • Swiss Restaurant Manager
    Anne Lonnberg
    Anne Lonnberg
    • Swiss Photographer
    László Szabó
    László Szabó
    • Russian Interrogator
    • (as Laszlo Szabo)
    Vladimír Valenta
    • Mayor
    Clovis Cornillac
    Clovis Cornillac
    • Boy in Bar
    • Director
      • Philip Kaufman
    • Writers
      • Milan Kundera
      • Jean-Claude Carrière
      • Philip Kaufman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first cut shown to the studio was under two hours in length and the story was confusing. Philip Kaufman was asked to add in scenes he cut. The next day they were shown the theatrically released version. It's believed Kaufman showed them a shorter and confusing version in order to get his almost three-hour final cut approved with no questions of cutting it.
    • Goofs
      Mephisto the Pig, consistently referred to as "he", is a sow, as can be seen frequently, but particularly when the group enters the inn for dancing.
    • Quotes

      Tereza: I know I'm supposed to help you, but I can't. Instead of being your support I'm your weight. Life is very heavy to me, but it is so light to you. I can't bear this lightness, this freedom... I'm not strong enough.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Shoot to Kill/The Serpent and the Rainbow/She's Having a Baby/The Unbearable Lightness of Being/School Daze (1988)

    User reviews153

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    special
    for the courage to adapt the Kundera novel. and for science to not be only an adaptation. for superb acting and for care to details - the black umbrellas is only an example. for delicate poetry of images and for inspired use of politic frame for reflect the nuances of lead characters. and for the message who, for a viewer from East Europe , has a fundamental sound. because is more than a story about choices, forms of love, fragility and need of the other, roots of freedom and pure joy in a dark universe. it is a perfect reflection to remember the web of past as embroidery of life crumbs. and admire the admirable manner of actors to give life to the characters shadows and lights.
    helpful•4
    0
    • Vincentiu
    • Dec 9, 2013

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ20

    • How long is The Unbearable Lightness of Being?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 15, 1988 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Juliette Binoche: The Art of Being - Official Fansite
      • MGM
    • Languages
      • English
      • Czech
    • Also known as
      • Die unerträgliche Leichtigkeit des Seins
    • Filming locations
      • Prague, Czech Republic(archive footage)
    • Production company
      • The Saul Zaentz Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $17,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $10,006,806
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $202,189
      • Feb 7, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $10,006,806
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 51 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Lena Olin in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
    Top Gap
    What is the Hindi language plot outline for The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Production art
    Photos
    Top Stars to Watch in 2024
    See the gallery
    Production art
    Photos
    The Greatest Character Actors of All Time
    See the gallery
    Production art
    List
    75th Primetime Emmys Cheat Sheet
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2024 by IMDb.com, Inc.