The Unbearable Lightness of Being
“A lovers’ story.”
Successful surgeon Tomas leaves Prague for an operation, meets a young photographer named Tereza, and brings her back with him. Tereza is surprised to learn that Tomas is already having an affair with the bohemian Sabina, but when the Soviet invasion occurs, all three flee to Switzerland. Sabina begins an affair, Tom continues womanizing, and Tereza, disgusted, returns to Czechoslovakia. Realizing his mistake, Tomas decides to chase after her.
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Cast
51 people
Daniel Day-Lewis
Tomas
Known for
There Will Be Blood
Gangs of New York
Juliette Binoche
Tereza
Known for
Godzilla
Chocolat
Lena Olin
Sabina
Known for
Hunters
Nine Perfect Strangers
Derek de Lint
Franz
Known for
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan
Black Book
Stellan Skarsgård
The Engineer
Known for
Chernobyl
Andor
Erland Josephson
The Ambassador
Known for
The Sacrifice
Nostalgia
Pavel Landovský
Pavel
Known for
Empties
Donald Moffat
Chief Surgeon
Known for
The Thing
Clear and Present Danger
Daniel Olbrychski
Interior Ministry Official
Known for
Salt
Decalogue III
Tomasz Borkowy
Jiri
Also in
Dom
Piece of Cake
Bruce Myers
Czech Editor
Known for
Henry & June
The Awakening
Pavel Slabý
Pavel's Nephew
Also in
Nikita
Boris Godounov
Philip Kaufman Director · Jean-Claude Carrière Screenplay Milan Kundera Author
Worldwide gross $10M · Budget $17M · United States release February 5, 1988
Box office
Budget
$17,000,000
Worldwide gross
$10,000,000
Gross vs. budget
0.6×
Production
The Saul Zaentz Company
Production
Orion Pictures
Studio
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
Czech · English
Release dates
United States · February 5, 1988
Theatrical
Argentina
September 8, 1988 · Theatrical
Australia
August 4, 1988 · Theatrical
Belgium
September 15, 1988 · Limited theatrical · Gent
Brazil
June 30, 2003 · Physical · DVD
Czechia
May 4, 1998 · Physical
Denmark
April 22, 1988 · Theatrical
Egypt
April 23, 2021 · Physical · DVD
Finland
April 1, 1988 · Theatrical
France
March 2, 1988 · Theatrical
July 27, 2016 · Theatrical · Re-release, restored version
Germany
April 7, 1988 · Theatrical · West Germany
October 2, 2008 · Physical · DVD
Greece
January 6, 2004 · Physical · DVD
Hong Kong SAR China
July 21, 1988 · Theatrical
Hungary
October 14, 1999 · Physical
Ireland
May 6, 1988 · Theatrical
Israel
October 2, 2008 · Physical · DVD
Italy
March 17, 1988 · Theatrical
Japan
October 1, 1988 · Theatrical
Mexico
February 7, 2006 · Physical · DVD
Netherlands
June 2, 1988 · Theatrical
June 21, 2008 · TV · RTL 8
July 22, 2009 · Physical · DVD
Norway
April 15, 1988 · Theatrical
Poland
August 4, 2008 · Premiere · Film and Art Festival Two Riversides
Portugal
May 5, 1988 · Theatrical
Singapore
April 6, 2022 · Physical · DVD
South Korea
July 8, 1989 · Theatrical
Spain
April 22, 1988 · Theatrical
Sweden
April 1, 1988 · Theatrical
Taiwan
March 25, 1989 · Theatrical
Türkiye
November 1, 1989 · Theatrical
United Arab Emirates
June 30, 2003 · Physical · DVD
United Kingdom
April 15, 1988 · Theatrical
Uruguay
May 16, 1991 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.