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.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
“A lovers’ story.”
Overview
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.
Director
Philip Kaufman
Budget
17.0M
Revenue
10.0M
Status
Released
Production
The Saul Zaentz Company
Cast
Daniel Day-Lewis
Tomas
Juliette Binoche
Tereza
Lena Olin
Sabina
Derek de Lint
Franz
Stellan Skarsgård
The Engineer
Erland Josephson
The Ambassador
Pavel Landovský
Pavel
Donald Moffat
Chief Surgeon
Daniel Olbrychski
Interior Ministry Official
Tomasz Borkowy
Jiri
Bruce Myers
Czech Editor
Pavel Slabý
Pavel's Nephew
Pascale Kalensky
Nurse Katja
Jacques Ciron
Swiss Restaurant Manager
Anne Lonnberg
Swiss Photographer
László Szabó
Russian Interrogator
Vladimír Valenta
Mayor
Clovis Cornillac
Boy in Bar
Consuelo De Haviland
Tall Brunette
Leon Lissek
Bold Man in Bar
Jacqueline Abraham-Vernier
Judith Atwell
Claudine Berg
Jean-Claude Bouillon
Miroslaw Beuer
Niven Busch
Margot Capelier
Victor Chelkoff
Monica Constandache
Jean-Claude Dauphin
Swiss editor
Dominique De Moncutt
Bernard Lepinaux
Josiane Lévêque
Peter Majer
Charles Millot
Lecturer in Geneva
Gérard Moulévrier
Jan Němec
Cameraman filming the tanks in Prague
Charly Oleg
Sylvie Plantard
Olga Baïdar-Poliakoff
Christine Potter
Hana Maria Pravda
Romano
André Sanfratello
Jiří Stanislav
Milos Szoboda
Helenka Vernier
Marrian Walters
Serge Delanoue
Danseur (uncredited)
Philip Kaufman
Man walking on street outside Sabina's flat (uncredited)
Isabelle Noérie
Student (uncredited)
Video Gallery
