The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
The Unbearable Lightness of Being is a 1988 romantic drama directed by Philip Kaufman, starring Stellan Skarsgård, Daniel Olbrychski and Juliette Binoche. It is based on The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera and Michael Henry Heim. It runs 2 hours 51 minutes and earned $10 million worldwide. It won 2 awards from 6 nominations, among them 2 Oscar nominations. Critics gave it 73 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 51m (171 min)
- Director
- Philip Kaufman
- Original language
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English - Studio
- Orion Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Unbearable Lightness of Being About?
The premise of The Unbearable Lightness of Being without spoilers, adapted from The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera and Michael Henry Heim. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A charismatic surgeon finds his life irrevocably changed by a passionate romance with a spirited photographer. Simultaneously, he grapples with feelings for another woman, creating a complex web of love and longing. As political turmoil erupts with the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, the three individuals are forced to flee to Switzerland, embarking on a profound journey of self-discovery, reconciliation, and the search for enduring love.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Cast
Stellan Skarsgård leads the cast, with Daniel Olbrychski and Juliette Binoche. Directed by Philip Kaufman; 10 actors are credited in all.
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Director Philip Kaufman
Also Starring in The Unbearable Lightness of Being
· 6 moreMore from Philip Kaufman
More films directed by Philip Kaufman, best-rated first: The Right Stuff, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Quills and The Wanderers.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Unbearable Lightness of Being 73 on Metacritic.
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Metacritic 73 Metascore
User score 7.5
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 69% User score
See on TMDB
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Plot Summary
What happens in The Unbearable Lightness of Being from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Tomas is a prominent brain surgeon living in communist Czechoslovakia, who finds himself embroiled in an affair with the free-spirited Sabina, an artist based in Prague. During a visit to a serene spa town for a specialized surgical procedure, Tomas encounters Tereza, a discontented waitress yearning for intellectual engagement. Tereza tracks him down in Prague, leading to her moving in with him and complicating the dynamics of their relationships.
Full summary
The whole story of The Unbearable Lightness of Being, scene by scene
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Box Office
The Unbearable Lightness of Being grossed $10 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$10M
- US & Canada
- $10M
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Awards & Nominations
The Unbearable Lightness of Being won 2 awards from 6 nominations, among them 2 Oscar nominations.
2 wins6 nominations4 ceremonies
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BAFTA 1989 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Best Adapted Screenplay – Philip Kaufman
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Spirit Awards 1989 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Best Cinematography
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Golden Globes 1989 2 nominations- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture (Supporting Actress) – Lena Olin
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Oscars 1989 2 nominations- Nominated Cinematography
- Nominated Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium) – Philip Kaufman
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
How Well Do You Know The Unbearable Lightness of Being?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What profession does Tomas hold?
Cars in The Unbearable Lightness of Being
29 cars on screen, including the 1939 Dodge T-Series and the 1974 Škoda 100.
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1939 Dodge T-Series Main role -
1974 Škoda 100 Main role -
1967 NSU Prinz 4 Important role -
1960 Zetor 3011 Important role
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Also Known As
24 alternative titles, including “A lét elviselhetetlen könnyűsége” and “Невыносимая легкость бытия”.
- Also known as
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- A lét elviselhetetlen könnyűsége
- Невыносимая легкость бытия
- 布拉格之恋
- 生命中不能承受之轻
- L'insoutenable légèreté de l'être
- A Insustentável Leveza do Ser
- La insoportable levedad del ser
- Tilværelsens uutholdelige letthet
- Die unerträgliche Leichtigkeit des Seins
- Varolmanın Dayanılmaz Hafifliği
- L'insostenibile leggerezza dell'essere
- Nieznośna lekkość bytu
+12 more Show fewer
- Varats olidliga lätthet
- הקלות הבלתי נסבלת של הקיום
- Nesnesitelná lehkost bytí
- Η αβάσταχτη ελαφρότητα του είναι
- 存在の耐えられない軽さ
- Непоносимата лекота на битието
- Нестерпна легкість буття
- 프라하의 봄
- Óbærilegur léttleiki tilverunnar
- سبکی غیرقابل تحمل بودن
- Tilværelsens ulidelige lethed, ყოფის აუტანელი სიმსუბუქე
- ปรารถนาต้องห้าม
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The Unbearable Lightness of Being FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of The Unbearable Lightness of Being, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Unbearable Lightness of Being?
The Unbearable Lightness of Being runs 2 hours 51 minutes (171 minutes).
When was The Unbearable Lightness of Being released?
The Unbearable Lightness of Being was released on February 5, 1988.
Who directed The Unbearable Lightness of Being?
The Unbearable Lightness of Being was directed by Philip Kaufman.
More films by Philip Kaufman Who is in the cast of The Unbearable Lightness of Being?
The Unbearable Lightness of Being stars Stellan Skarsgård, Daniel Olbrychski and Juliette Binoche, among 10 credited actors.
How much did The Unbearable Lightness of Being make at the box office?
The Unbearable Lightness of Being grossed $10 million worldwide.
How is The Unbearable Lightness of Being rated?
The Unbearable Lightness of Being has 73 on Metacritic and 69% on TMDB.
Is The Unbearable Lightness of Being based on a book?
Yes. The Unbearable Lightness of Being is adapted from The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera and Michael Henry Heim.
What awards did The Unbearable Lightness of Being win?
The Unbearable Lightness of Being won 2 awards from 6 nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay at the BAFTA 1989.
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