The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)

Plot Summary

Set during the Prague Spring period in the late 1960s and covering the subsequent Soviet invasion, the story follows Tomas, a womanising surgeon who longs to find happiness without it being compromised by either issues of freedom or commitment. Based on the novel by Milan Kundera, Philip Kaufman's film contains plenty of eroticism as well as philosophical subtext, while an excellent cast elevates the dramatic complexity of the story.

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Release Date

Also Known As (A.K.A.)

Certification

Sensitive content guide

Awards

BAFTA Awards (1989)

BAFTA Film Award 1989

Winner

Best Screenplay - Adapted

Jean-Claude Carrière Philip Kaufman

Academy Awards, USA (1989)

Oscar 1989

Nominated

Best Cinematography

Sven Nykvist

Oscar 1989

Nominated

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium

Jean-Claude Carrière Philip Kaufman

Golden Globes, USA (1989)

Golden Globe 1989

Nominated

Best Motion Picture - Drama