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IMDbPro

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 2h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
37K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,780
5
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.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
37K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,780
5
  • Director
    • Philip Kaufman
  • Writers
    • Milan Kundera(novel)
    • Jean-Claude Carrière(screenplay)
    • Philip Kaufman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Daniel Day-Lewis
    • Juliette Binoche
    • Lena Olin
  • Director
    • Philip Kaufman
  • Writers
    • Milan Kundera(novel)
    • Jean-Claude Carrière(screenplay)
    • Philip Kaufman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Daniel Day-Lewis
    • Juliette Binoche
    • Lena Olin
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 148User reviews
    • 61Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 7 wins & 13 nominations total

    Videos1

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

    Photos114

    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
    • 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(novel)
      • Jean-Claude Carrière(screenplay)
      • Philip Kaufman(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • 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: Shoot to Kill/The Serpent and the Rainbow/She's Having a Baby/The Unbearable Lightness of Being/School Daze (1988)

    User reviews148

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    I'm impressed
    One of the greatest and most beautiful films I have ever seen! It is a movie that is returned and returned, and does not tire of it. I loved every character, especially Thomas and Teresa. Intrigued by the eyes and looks of Thomas and the way he looks to people
    helpful•7
    0
    • Michaelhosha3
    • Jun 22, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 5, 1988 (United States)
    • 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

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    By what name was The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988) officially released in India in English?
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