That is not to say that politics aren't present, only that they provide a context. The communists are subtly sinister bureaucrats, using intimidation and blackmail to put fear in the hearts of the people. But whenever politics threatens to dominate the film, the characters leave Prague, and the script can again focus on philanderings and infidelities.

Daniel Day Lewis is Tomas, an ingratiating brain surgeon with a talent for seducing beautiful women. (The film's signature line is "Take off your clothes".) His favorite partner is Sabina (Lena Olin), who shares his free-spirited philosophy. Tomas begins a committed relationship with Tereza (Juliette Binoche), whom he eventually marries. But he is unable to stop philandering. Meanwhile, Soviet tanks arrive in Prague. Our leads flee to Switzerland, where Sabina begins an adulterous relationship with naive Franz (Derek de Lint).

While Olin was the only cast member to receive a significant acting nomination (Golden Globe Best Supporting Actress), Binoche and Lewis are equally good. Daniel Day Lewis may be the best actor of this generation, and he is as convincing here as he was with drastically different (and more challenging) characters in films such as "A Room with a View", "My Left Foot", and "In the Name of the Father".

"Being" received Academy Award nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay (Jean-Claude Carriere and Philip Kaufman, based on the Milan Kundera novel) and Best Cinematography (Sven Nykist; the film was shot in France due to Czech politics). The Golden Globes nominated "Being" for Best Picture. Still, much credit must go to Kaufman, as his direction makes the characters sensual, credible and compelling.