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The Unbearable Lightness of Being

  • 1988
  • R
  • 2h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
41K
YOUR RATING
Lena Olin in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
Steamy RomanceDramaRomance

A doctor in 1968 Prague struggles with monogamy to his wife's frustration, and then the Soviet invasion further disrupts their lives.A doctor in 1968 Prague struggles with monogamy to his wife's frustration, and then the Soviet invasion further disrupts their lives.A doctor in 1968 Prague struggles with monogamy to his wife's frustration, 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
    7.2/10
    41K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Philip Kaufman
    • Writers
      • Milan Kundera
      • Jean-Claude Carrière
      • Philip Kaufman
    • Stars
      • Daniel Day-Lewis
      • Juliette Binoche
      • Lena Olin
    • 169User reviews
    • 66Critic 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
    The Unbearable Lightness of Being

    Photos116

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    Top Cast51

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

    User reviews169

    7.241K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    The Unbearable Lightness of Being
    The Unbearable Lightness of Being

    Related interests

    Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan in Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
    Steamy Romance
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Did you know

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

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    Details

    • Release date
      • February 5, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • arabuloku.com
      • Juliette Binoche: The Art of Being - Official Fansite
    • Languages
      • English
      • Czech
    • Also known as
      • La insoportable levedad del ser
    • Filming locations
      • Prague, Czech Republic(archive footage)
    • Production company
      • The Saul Zaentz Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • 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

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 2h 51m(171 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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