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IMDbPro

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 2h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
36K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,929
697
Lena Olin in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
  • Drama
  • Romance
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
36K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,929
697
  • Director
    • Philip Kaufman
  • Writers
    • Milan Kundera(novel)
    • Jean-Claude Carrière(screenplay)
    • Philip Kaufman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Daniel Day-Lewis
    • Juliette Binoche
    • Lena Olin
Top credits
  • 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
    • 144User reviews
    • 59Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 7 wins & 14 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Unbearable Lightness of Being
    Trailer 2:26
    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
    • Tomasas Tomas
    Juliette Binoche
    Juliette Binoche
    • Terezaas Tereza
    Lena Olin
    Lena Olin
    • Sabinaas Sabina
    Derek de Lint
    Derek de Lint
    • Franzas Franz
    Erland Josephson
    Erland Josephson
    • The Ambassadoras The Ambassador
    Pavel Landovský
    Pavel Landovský
    • Pavelas Pavel
    Donald Moffat
    Donald Moffat
    • Chief Surgeonas Chief Surgeon
    Daniel Olbrychski
    Daniel Olbrychski
    • Interior Ministry Officialas Interior Ministry Official
    Stellan Skarsgård
    Stellan Skarsgård
    • The Engineeras The Engineer
    Tomasz Borkowy
    • Jirias Jiri
    • (as Tomek Bork)
    Bruce Myers
    • Czech Editoras Czech Editor
    Pavel Slabý
    • Pavel's Nephewas Pavel's Nephew
    Pascale Kalensky
    • Nurse Katjaas Nurse Katja
    Jacques Ciron
    • Swiss Restaurant Manageras Swiss Restaurant Manager
    Anne Lonnberg
    Anne Lonnberg
    • Swiss Photographeras Swiss Photographer
    László Szabó
    László Szabó
    • Russian Interrogatoras Russian Interrogator
    Vladimír Valenta
    • Mayoras Mayor
    Clovis Cornillac
    Clovis Cornillac
    • Boy in Baras Boy in Bar
    • Director
      • Philip Kaufman
    • Writers
      • Milan Kundera(novel)
      • Jean-Claude Carrière(screenplay)
      • Philip Kaufman(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details 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 At the Movies: Shoot to Kill/The Serpent and the Rainbow/She's Having a Baby/The Unbearable Lightness of Being/School Daze (1988)

    User reviews144

    Review
    Top review
    Overlong and slowmoving to the point of madness.
    I know this is considered one great picture but I am one of the people who's attention was lost early on. I have read on here, people complaining about the length but it wasn't only the almost unbearable running time that didn't do it for me, it was also the extremely slow lackluster pace. If a movie moves at a brisk pace and is enjoyable to watch the length may not even be felt. I wanted to like this because I felt I SHOULD like this because it's considered such an intellectual film that it's almost like you HAVE to like it. But I didn't.I'm not saying it's not an interesting film just not for everyone. The characters themsleves, lost me early on and there was such a slow buildup it was maddening. Add to that, the almost unbearable length of the picture and it's really hard to sit through.

    I know this film has it's fans but reading the comments here it looks like I'm not alone in my thoughts on this. This is the type of movie you watch to have long, deep analytical discussions about after but in my case the only discussion I could come up with is: turn it off.
    helpful•15
    13
    • triple8
    • Mar 26, 2004

    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
    • 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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