The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Such an exciting title, but the movie falls short of the promise. Not having read the book, one cannot argue that it does not do justice to it. But if online sources are to be believed, the author Milan Kundera did not think much of the film too, and said as much.

It is promising, to start with. But it meanders too much aimlessly. There is a doctor in Prague who goes to the countryside and falls for a woman who works there. She comes back to live with him, interrupting his carefree lifestyle as far as women go.

The Russian occupation of Prague forces them to think again, and they go to Switzerland. For reasons that are not clear, she decides to return to Prague, and he follows. What follows is a tragedy of sorts, with both being unhappy. There is another lady, an artist, in the middle of all this. Anyway, the lead couple migrate to the country, and then die in a road accident.

Could have been directed a lot better, and edited a lot better. A promising story told inefficiently. It is too long, and meanders without purpose. The story might be better in print. There are a few explicit scenes, so watch out.