The Unbearable Lightness of Being: Two-Disc Special Edition

Although the movie performed much better in Europe than in America, critics on both sides of the Atlantic lauded Philip Kaufman's problematic but ambitious adaptation of Milan Kundera's autobiographical novel about life and love in Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia. In fact, many Kundera adherents expressed wonderment that Kaufman and screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere were able to pull off a cohesive cinematic translation of a book that most people thought was unfilmable. Daniel Day-Lewis made an indelible impression on moviegoers as Tomas, the Prague-based surgeon and compulsive womanizer who eventually marries lovely country girl Tereza (Juliette Binoche) but carries on 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 characters. As pointed out in the “Emotional History” making-of featurette included on the bonus features, The Unbearable Lightness of 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 (which makes his achievement all the more remarkable). Additional DVD extras include commentary by Kaufman, Carriere, Olin, and editor Walter Murch. Although the extras are actually a little skimpy for a two-disc “special edition,” this wonderful film is still highly recommended. (E. Hulse)