Sabina: I've met another man. He's the best man I've ever met. He's bright, handsome and he's crazy about me. And, he's married. There's only one thing; he doesn't like my hat.
Tereza: I don't understand how someone can MAKE love without BEING in love.
[first lines]

First Title Card: In Prague, in 1968, there lived a young doctor named Tomas...

Tomas: Take off your clothes.

[line recurs several times during film]
Tomas: I must go.

Sabina: Don't you ever spend the night at the woman's place?

Tomas: Never!

Sabina: What about when the woman's at your place?

Tomas: I tell her I have insomnia... anything. Besides, I have a very narrow bed.

Sabina: Are you afraid of women, Doctor?

Tomas: Of course.
[last lines]

Tereza: Tomas, what are you thinking?

Tomas: I'm thinking how happy I am.
Tereza: [referring to her dog] Karenin prefers Mephisto to dogs. She thinks other dogs are silly.

Tomas: [Mephisto snorts and Tomas inhales the aroma of the food] Ha-ha.

Pavel: Do you know why I love Mephisto? Because he's very bright, but, at the same time,

[gesturing for emphasis]

Pavel: he doesn't know anything! After all, he doesn't know that life is impossible here now. Nothing left here. The church is gone.

[shrugging]

Pavel: No place to drink beer now.

[he drinks his bottle of beer very quickly]

Pavel: It's good... very good.

[slurping]

Pavel: If you ever change your mind, it won't be easy to leave.
Tereza: I was forced to love my mother, but not this dog. You know, Tomas... maybe... maybe, I love her more than I love you. Not more. I mean in a better way. I'm not jealous of her. I don't want her to be different. I don't ask her for anything.
Sabina: Take off your clothes.

Tereza: [taken aback] What?

Sabina: [taking the camera] Now it's my turn.

Tereza: [backing up] I don't like to be naked. I...

Sabina: [insistent] Take off your clothes!

Tereza: Wait!

[she ducks behind the bed]
Sabina: I really like you, Tomas. You are the complete opposite of kitsch. In the kingdom of kitsch you would be a monster.
Tomas: You can sleep. Sleep in my arms. Like a baby bird. Like a broom among brooms... in a broom closet. Like a tiny parrot. Like a whistle. Like a little song. A song sung by a forest... within a forest... a thousand years ago.
Tereza: I know I'm supposed to help you, but I can't. Instead of being your support I'm your weight. Life is very heavy to me, but it is so light to you. I can't bear this lightness, this freedom... I'm not strong enough.
Tomas: Some people never change.Some people are always scoundrels.
Sabina: Maybe I am seeing you for the last time?

Tomas: Maybe.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being Quotes

Extended Reading

The Unbearable Lightness of Being short comments

Priscilla 2022-03-27 09:01:14

The way of life under specific historical conditions, philosophically explores the "kitsch" nature of human nature
Waylon 2022-03-27 09:01:14

I watched it when I was a kid and couldn't understand it. I finally figured it out today. Sabina is so cute, Thomas and Teresa are too "heavy" compared to Sabina. Teresa instinctively chose fidelity, Thomas instinctively chose arrogance, but neither of them could see the sociological and physiological meaning behind loyalty and arrogance. That's why they're not happy. They are only suitable for living in primitive society - like the country life at the end of the movie.