The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)

VHS CASE/SIDE

MPAA Certificate Number: 28966

Length of film:  171 Minutes

Rated: R 

Genre: Drama, Romance

Director: Phillip Kaufman

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche, Lena Olin, Derek de Lint, Erland Josephson, Stellan Skarsgard

IMDB Rank: 7.3/10

Part 1 Time:  101 Minutes

Part 2 Time:  70 Minutes

Where does the first part end? Tereza (Juliette Binoche) and Sabina (Lena Olin) have an exotic photo-shoot in Sabina’s Switzerland flat.  

Final line of dialogue on the first part: Sabina speaks to Tereza “Listen Tereza, I want you to leave now. I have things to do.”

First line of dialogue on the second part: “Sabrina?” Franz (Derek de Lint) announces entering into an empty apartment.

How jarring is it when the first part ends? None, at this point in the film all major characters are out of danger, now living in Switzerland away from the 1968 Prague Spring. The only mystery is what Sabina means by she “has things to do?”

Which part is better? The better part of this film is determined by the viewer as the film explores power relationships. The first part of the film clearly shows Tomas (Daniel Day-Lewis) in control. In part two, we see Tereza neutralizing the relationship. Part one is given the advantage as it introduces the mystic of Tomas and the events of the 1968 Prague Spring.

Academy Awards: Best Writing- Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Nominated), Best Cinematography (Nominated).