The Unbearable Lightness of Being

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.