I was
worried about this film. I really was. Not because I thought it would turn out
bad, on the contrary, I was rather afraid it would turn out very good. If you
don’t know what I mean, you haven’t read the book. Those who have will
understand why three hours of one of the most depressing books known to man,
re-enacted by an all-star cast would seem a tad bit daunting. I was literally
afraid of being pushed to depression. I am so very glad I watched it in the end;
it was such a cinematic experience. I do need a cuddle though. And about six
large boxes of chocolate.
The
unbearable lightness of being is the story of Tomas (Daniel Day Lewis). And Tomas’
life is inextricably entwined with the lives of Teresa (Juliette Binoche) and
Sabina (Lena Olin). Tomas is a brain surgeon living in Czechoslovakia in the
1960’s. When our story opens, he has a successful career that is rivalled only
by his success with the ladies. But despite his steady string of girlfriends in
the background he always comes back to his intensely sexual and passionate
relationship with Sabina. This changes slightly (but only slightly) when Tomas
runs into the naïve, childlike Teresa. She is very much a country bumpkin and
embodies everything the women around Tomas have lost, such as purity and
illusions. Tomas falls madly in love with her; they get married in a matter of
months. However one thing in Tomas’ life
does not change. Even married, he still continues to return to Sabina, much to
the distress of Teresa. But this is not the beginning of the woes of the couple
as soon the USSR invades Czechoslovakia and a truly brave new world begins to
unfold all around the country, the couple – and Sabina – barely escape Prague
with their lives. But now there is a new problem. Now, apart from the fact that
Tomas finds live so very “light” and can only live by drifting along and
breaking hearts no matter how much he would love something to tie him down, the
couple have been cut loose from every single root they ever had in their home
country. It is a point of no return, and there is nothing on earth that can fix
those teares, even returning to Prague…
I don’t
quit know where to begin with this one. I’ll start with what I thought was the
best about it; Juliette Binoche STEALS the show for me. I think she is
BRILLIANT as Teresa. I really think she came into her own here, personally I
never was that big of a fan of hers before. But no longer. She is a wonderful
contrast with Lena Olin who is point perfect as the deeply passionate Sabina
who is every inch a woman. My Mom will be disappointed to hear this but I had
considerable trouble warming to Daniel Day Lewis as Tomas. It was only when I
was actually writing these lines that I realised; that actually shows exactly how
good Daniel Day Lewis was in this role. The whole point of Tomas is, after all,
that he cannot be “attached to” as he is in a constant mode of detached
floating, unable to connect. And quite beautifully, the two women could not be
more different one from the other, but neither of them can truly “catch” Tomas.
Some might argue that Teresa succeeds in a way, as they do end up married for
the duration of the film, but ask yourself this. If Sabina had not “taken
things into her own hands” towards the middle of the film (bending over
backwards not to give spoilers away here) what would have changed in that
triangle? Categorically nothing. Which is, possibly, the whole point of the
film. It is, I think, the story is trying to draw a portrait of humanity among
other things. Humans, their heads full of dreams of being settled and “settling”
for something but constantly unable to do so and constantly being “acted upon”
rather than being active in their own lives. Buffeted by other people,
political systems and events. Just drifting – unable to set down roots… The
difference of this story from a lot of others of its kind is that it doesn’t
portray Tomas suddenly transforming into the active hero we want him to be deep
down, if only so at least one of the women can find contentment and
happiness (I defy to be able to
sympathise with just one of the women by the way). But Tomas ends up being buffeted
around from pillar to post and then… Well I’ll let you discover what then, but
suffice to say, he doesn’t turn into a shiny, polished Hollywood hero. Thank
God.
And lastly
of course, the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. A particularly fascinating
point in this particular work of art as it is based on the personal, first-hand
observations of Milan Kundera, the writer of the book. Of course a book and a
film are very difficult to compare as far as style goes, but I felt the film
gave a very artistic, very brilliant rendition of the invasion, using various
different mediums including Teresa’s photography (oh the nostalgia in me when I
saw her old camera!) and black and white footage, not actual documentary
footage of course but shot in the same style, giving it a further air of
authenticity.
Life is, at
the end of the day, about going places. Not always physically but also as a
person, or simply exploring different sides of your own personality. This film
will definitely “take you places”. You may not necessarily like every single
place you end up in… But well… That’s life for you.
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