The first cut shown to the studio was under two hours in length and the story was confusing. Philip Kaufman was asked to add in scenes he cut. The next day they were shown the theatrically released version. It's believed Kaufman showed them a shorter and confusing version in order to get his almost three-hour final cut approved with no questions of cutting it.
Milan Kundera didn't particularly care for this version of his novel and refused to do publicity for it.
In 1989, the film was shown in Russia for the first time. Screenings were low-key, and held at midnight. Still, more than three thousand people attended each showing, with another thousand being turned away at the door. Many of the people had seen the Czech invasion footage before from the Soviet point of view - reedited to show the Soviet invaders as the heroes and the Czechs as the rebels. For many Russians, this was the first time they'd seen the point of view from the other side.
Sir Daniel Day-Lewis at first turned down the role feeling the script made him too nice. The script was revised and added in things from the book that made the character less "perfect".
Milos Forman personally offered to Philip Kaufman the opportunity to direct the movie after hearing that studios were interested in making a film adaptation of Milan Kundera's successful novel. Forman had to pass the chance to direct it himself because he had family in Czechoslovakia and he feared for them in case of a possible negative reaction from the Soviet government, who were occupying the country at the time.