Review of The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988) by Garrett ! — 21 Oct 2011

I found myself moved in a unique way by this film. It wasn't the usual emotion prompted buy the majority of films out there, the pure, visceral emotion of the joys, fears, sadness prompted by the standard cues of film-making.

No, The Unbearable Lightness of Being is...softer, quieter. Certainly, it has its fair share of dramatic moments, of tears, fears, and joys. But at the end, I found myself nostalgic, quiet, knowing that I had just seen a great film but was uncertain of how to express such a feeling.

Perhaps it was brought on by the excellent acting, which overcomes such challenges as Lewis' hairstyle? Perhaps it was the excellent script, the moving cinematography, the high quality technical work? Or perhaps the way the film manages to address sex without being gratuitous about it, which even films like Eyes Wide Shut struggled with immensely, but here feels natural.

But in the end, the thing that comes back to me most is the music. I cannot describe exactly the perfection of the music, nor will everyone understand. You must discover it for yourself.