Amazon.com Essentials:
Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Tomas, the happily irresponsible
Czech lover of Milan
Kundera's novel, which is set in Prague just before and during the
Soviet invasion in 1968. Lena Olin and Juliette Binoche are the two
vastly different women who occupy his attention and to some extent
represent different sides of his values and personality. In any case,
the character's decision to flee Russian tanks with one of them--and
then return--has profound consequences on his life. Directed by Philip
Kaufman, this rich, erotic, fascinating character study with
allegorical overtones is a touchstone for many filmgoers. Several key
sequences--such as Olin wearing a bowler hat and writhing most
attractively--linger in the memory, while Kaufman's assured sense of
the story inspires superb performances all around. --Tom Keogh
