The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
Review by M.B. | Foreign Films Made in Czech
It was a brief erotic extravaganza at the beginning of the movie! The cover implied it too with 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 portray something more serious: a philosophy of life which one of the main characters, Tomas, a successful surgeon, adopted once the USSR took over Czechoslovakia in 1968. To him, life meant enjoying, simply enjoying whatever life offers. In his case, it meant wealth, easy life, women and meaningless sex.
The novel with the same name, "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" was written in 1982 by Milan Kundera and published in France in 1984. The movie was directed by an American director, Philip Kaufman, but the chosen was mainly from Europe, with Daniel Day-Lewis, British (Tomas); Juliette Binoche, French (Tereza) and Lena Olin, Swedish (Sabina). The producer, Saul Zaentz, was the very same who produced Amadeus (1984) and The English Patient (1996).
With beautiful cinematography, superb acting, the movie was done in a stylish and artistic manner, which conveyed an underlying poignant and deep theme where philosophy entwined with politics and history of Czechoslovakia surrounding the event of 1968.
Tomas represented a young and successful intellect of Czechoslovakia. He enjoyed living, doing his duties as a surgeon, and making love to whomever his mood came. Life to him, meant no politics, no serious stuff. Sabina, his favorite lover, was 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 couldn’t see why he had to be faithful to his wife. Running to Switzerland when the regime changed hand in Czechoslovakia, 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 of and his prior publication about Czech Communists, the new regime demanded Tomas to retract what he wrote. Tomas suddenly realized 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 practice his professional career, 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.
Realized that things around them had become too complicated, with undercover police, politics, everywhere, the couple decided to run far away. They settled down happily as farmers. Returned home after an odd trip to town, the couple was killed in a road accident. The last scene showed that they had finally found peace and happiness within themselves and with each other, just 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 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 "Amadeus", this movie was equipped with beautiful music though not burdened much with heavy clothing. As a matter of fact, it was full of scenes with nudity, love making in very artistic ways.
Click here to buy movie posters!
Posters
Film Trailer
