The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988); Philip Kaufman
Class Reading:
Monday 13 Oct. week 8.
Topic: Eastern European Cinema. The Sixties. reading: Questions of Identity, chapt. 17: “My Ten Most European Experiences.” + “Prague Spring: An Exercise in Democracy” : NPR (audio-file)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93720234&sc=emaf
SC. The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Philip Kaufman. (1988, 171‘) [prepare for an almost 3-hour long film and bring popcorn]
Questions for Reading from Dr. Blum:
Questions to class: The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
Pre & post-screening questions for in-class discussion:
1. How does the narrative entitled “The Unbearable Lightness of Being- A lovers’ story” weave in the more political agenda of the film? List all the instances where politics intervene in the film.
2. Are people essentially preoccupied-or interested with politics in the narrative? Or how does politics enter their lives?
3. Establish the structure of the film: how many parts? What happens in these? Is there a turning point? When? How? Is there a progression?
4. What is the importance of art (work)?
5. In one part of the film, the main protagonist decides to write and publish an essay that will cost him. What is the article about and why is it so damaging?
6. Comment on each protagonist’s job(s) and personality?
7. What are the possible escapes from an oppressive regime, as established in the narrative? and in general?
8. How do Russians appear- how are they shot?
9. Can we connect the story with Closely Watched trains? How?
10. Analyze the sequence where the Soviet tanks arrive in Prague.
11. What are the different geographical locations of the film?
12. How would you characterize the regime once they return to Prague?
13.Attempt a possible interpretation of the title.
14. Research oriented: check out the cast/their origins etc…
15. Analyze one sequence and the use of a specific film technique
Here are some resources to help you digest the film:
Additional Websites:
- Movie Stills from Virtual History
- Criterion Collection essay
- Preview of “Unbearable” on Youtube
- On the Prague Spring
