The Unbearable Lightness of Being, 1988

A bit erotic at the beginning of the movie! (The cover implied it too, a picture of a beautiful female, in a very artistic and seductive pose, terribly promising!)

Luckily, the movie did not focus on just that aspect only (thank God!), but used it to talk about something more serious: a philosophy of life which one of the main characters, Tomas, a successful surgeon in the movie/book, adopted.

To him, life meant enjoying, simply enjoying whatever life offers. In his case, it meant wealth, easy life, women, meaningless sex, etc.

From the same named novel, "The unbearable Lightness of Being" by Milan Kundera, 1982, published in France, 1984, the movie was about Tomas and his life, his lovers, etc, in 1968, when the USSR took over Czech.

The movie was directed by Philip Kaufman, an American, but the cast chosen for the movie, was mainly from Europe, with Daniel Day-Lewis, British (Tomas); Juliette Binoche, French (Tereza); Lena Olin, Swedish (Sabina); etc.

The producer, Saul Zaentz, was the very same who did Amadeus (1984), The English Patient (1996).

With beautiful cinematography, superb acting, the movie was done in a stylish and artistic manner, which conveyed a poignant and deep themes behind: philosophy entwined with politics and a brief history of Czech around the event of 1968.

Tomas in this movie, represented a young and successful intellects of Czech at the time. He enjoyed living, doing his duties as a surgeon, and making love to whomever his mood came. Life to him, meaned no politics, no serious stuff. Sabina was his favourite lover, a painter, who shared his view of life: free from anything too serious like commitments.

Being pushed into certain situations, one of which was falling in love with a young and innocent Tereza, (who later, became a successful photographer with Sabina's help and encouragement), Tomas married her. However, Tomas couldnot see why he had to be faithful to his wife.

Running to Switzeland when the regime changed hand in Czech 1968, Tomas continued with his affairs and work, while Tereza became frustrated with the way her life turned out over there. Being a serious person, she decided to let Tomas be with his way of life, and left for home. Unexpected to her, Tomas risked everything to follow her back to their homeland, facing hardships from the new regime.

Due to his view over Czech communist, and what he pulished before, the new regime demanded Tomas to retract what he wrote. Tomas suddenly realised that life was not simple as he had thought. Refused to retract his view, Tomas and his wife found life unbearable under the new regime, but they were by then, no longer could leave the country.

Could not practise his professional career because of his view about the communist regime, Tomas and his wife had to find any work to survive. However, being a window cleaner did not seem to stop Tomas from having affairs with other women. Tereza in one of her angry mood, decided to copy her husband.

Realised that things around them had become too complicated, with undercover police, politics, etc, everywhere, the couple decided to run far away. They settled down happily as farmers. Returned home after an odd trip to town, the couple got killed in a road accident. The last scene showed that they had found peace and happiness within themselves and with each other, prior to the accident. (Tomas was driving the truck, Tereza sat next to him, the rain was steady, the road was lonely, but almost clear...).

Sabina received the news. She was in America at the time, contented with her life as an artist in a free country. Nothing showed much here, except her quiet tears. It was beautifully done!

The novel might have mentioned about the couple's son, who corresponded to Sabina, and was the same one who sent Sabina the sad news. The movie skipped this detail (about the son) completely.


Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche and Lena Olin were all terrific in playing their roles. Watching Daniel Day-Lewis, I kept thinking of the young John Travolta in "Grease" (1978). However, Daniel Day-Lewis with his slim, tall and stylish figure, definitely beat John Travolta in this role of a playboy, the type who "loves them and leave them"...

I was impressed with Lena Olin. She seemed to be able to hide (or show) whatever emotions she wanted to. A real artist!

Just as in "Amadeus", this movie was equipped with beautiful music. Different to "Amadeus", it was not burdened much with heavy clothings. As a matter of fact, it was full of scenes with nudity, love making, etc, in very artistic ways.

(wrote this review for my friend in Czech)