Barnes & Noble

Critics on both sides of the Atlantic lauded Philip Kaufman’s ambitious adaptation of Milan Kundera’s autobiographical novel about life and love in Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia, although the movie performed much better in Europe than here in America. In fact, many Kundera adherents expressed wonderment that Kaufman and screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere achieved a cohesive cinematic translation of a novel most people thought unfilmable. Daniel Day-Lewis makes an indelible impression as Tomas, the Prague-based surgeon and compulsive womanizer who eventually marries lovely country girl Tereza (Juliette Binoche) while continuing an affair with free-spirited artist Sabina (Lena Olin), who abandons him when Russian tanks roll into the country in the spring of 1968. Day-Lewis excels as the opaque, uncommunicative surgeon, and the female leads are equally memorable in their skillfully drawn roles. As pointed out in a making-of featurette on this disc, Being was filmed before the Iron Curtain fell, and the production was not without risk; Kaufman claims that he received death threats (presumably from pro-Soviet entities) and was accompanied by bodyguards while shooting on location. That makes his achievement all the more remarkable. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

In Philip Kaufman's surprisingly successful film adaptation of Czech author Milan Kundera's demanding 1984 bestseller, Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Tomas, an overly amorous Prague surgeon, while Juliette Binoche plays Tereza, the waiflike beauty whom he marries. Even though he's supposedly committed, Tomas continues his wanton womanizing, notably with his silken mistress Sabina (Lena Olin). Escaping the 1968 Russian invasion of Prague by heading for Geneva, Sabina takes up with another man and unexpectedly develops a friendship with Tereza. Meanwhile, Tomas, who previously was interested only in sex, becomes politicized by the collapse of Czechoslovakia's Dubcek regime. The Unbearable Lightness of Being may be too leisurely for some viewers, but other viewers may feel the same warm sense of inner satisfaction that is felt after finishing a good, long novel. Hal Erickson

Product Details

• UPC: 012569734043
• Source: WARNER HOME VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Editions: Special Edition, Subtitled, Dubbed
• Time: 2:52:00
• Sales Rank: 1,751

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