The Unbearable Lightness of Being – Uprising 68? screening

As part of Eastern Bloc Songs: Party, Pop and Politics and #Uprising68 we present Philip Kaufman’s ‘The Unbearable Lightness of Being’, based on the Milan Kundera’s famous novel which action happens during the events of Prague Spring in 1968.

For the post-film discussion we have invited a special guest – Dr Marta Filipová, a researcher from the University of Birmingham focused on identity construction in the visual arts of modern Central Europe, the politics of displays at national and international exhibitions and more generally on the relationship between the global and local in art and design.

By the series of ‘Uprising The Spirit of ’68’ we want to celebrate the round 50th anniversary of Prague Spring 1968 – one of the major political and cultural events happening all over XXth century Europe. After a few months of liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the spring of 1968, the Soviet Union and other members of the Warsaw Pact invaded the country to stop the reforms and start the occupation. That period of time, which combined political freedom and oppression triggered an interesting cultural vibe of politically engaged art.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being shows the life of main characters – intelectualist doctor Thomas, his lovers and wife during the 1968 invasion by the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact.

Those events are not just a background for the main plot of the movie, which at first glance could be just a story about difficult love feelings. Events of 1968 not only have a deep influence on main characters choices, but they are also showing the state of Czech souls and minds at the time.

Join us on 11th of October from 6pm at Centrala and commemorate with us the 50th anniversary of Prague Spring!

Two weeks later – 25th of October we will host the last screening from the series of ‘Uprising -The Spirit of ’68’ meetings – Refugees – a Marian Marzyński’s documentary film about Polish citizens of Jewish origin who needed to leave Poland after the March 68 events.

Uprising -The Spirit of ’68’ events are prepared in cooperation with #filmhubmidlands