Milan Kundera, ‘The Unbearable Lightness of Being’ Novelist, Dies at 94
variety.comLeo Barraclough International Features Editor Milan Kundera, whose novel “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” was turned into an Oscar-nominated film, has died at the age of 94.
Kundera died Tuesday in Paris after a long illness, Jindra Pavelková, a representative of the Moravian Library, the Czech library housing his personal collection, told Variety Wednesday. “Milan Kundera was a writer who reached whole generations of readers across all continents and achieved global fame,” Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said. “He leaves behind not only notable fiction, but also significant essay work.” The 1988 film adaptation of “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” was directed by Philip Kaufman and starred Daniel Day-Lewis and Juliette Binoche.
Jean-Claude Carrière and Kaufman were Oscar nominated for adapted screenplay, and Sven Nykvist was Oscar nominated for cinematography.
Other films based on his work include 1969’s “The Joke,” directed by Jaromil Jires, which played at San Sebastián Film Festival, and 1969’s “Já, truchlivý buh,” directed by Antonín Kachlík.
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