The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)

Triumph of the human spirit

When magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby (Mathieu Amalric) suffers a massive stroke, the result is a case of `locked-in syndrome,' which leaves the body paralyzed but the mind unaffected. Through a laborious system of blinking, he defies his condition to communicate not only with those around him, but with the world as well via the writing of his memoir.

Director Julian Schnabel and cinematographer Janusz Kaminski use a full palette of film techniques to bring us into Bauby's world, often presenting scenes from his point of view. In collaboration with Ronald Harwood's sensitive script and the excellent cast, they have made a fascinating, bittersweet film about courage and love.
October 20, 2008

Excellent...

French film with English subtitles. This is a memoir of Jean-Dominique Bauby - a man on top of the world - editor of Elle - a popular fashion design magazine. Bauby suddenly acquires "locked-in" syndrome - a rare illness which paralyzes him from his head to his toes. Bauby cannot speak but remains trapped in a sound mind. He only has the use of his left eye - and with patient care givers he learns to "sign" and communicate with his eye by blinking. After passing through bouts of claustrophobia, Bauby dreams, imagines and reflects. He reflects back on love, love lost, regrets and his relationships with his wife, children, parents and lovers. After shaking off his depressive state, Bauby writes the memoir "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" by signing one letter at a time to his stenographer.

You live Bauby's claustrophobia in this film - being trapped in his body - he cannot swap a fly off his noise - cannot change the channel on the T.V. - cannot wipe the drool from his face.

There are beautiful moving scenes with his aging Father, his wife, his lover and children.

You feel Bauby's will to live and his desire to return to the life that was.

There is spectacular cinematography in this film. French villages. Ocean views. Sweeping vistas. Red and white lighthouse.

This film was the winner of many awards and is deserving of all. One of the best films I have had the pleasure to watch.
October 18, 2008

Diving Bell and Butterly

The most striking element of the film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is most certainly the cinematography. The majority of the film is shot from the perspective of Jean-Dominique Bauby's eye. This creates some very interesting and dynamic shots. I found the first couple scenes particularly interesting. When the film begins, Mr. Bauby's eye slowly opens and looks around the room. The Camera is extremely out of focus and blurry. It immediately draws you deep into the film. As people begin to take notice of Mr. Bauby's awakening the shallow focus becomes more obvious. People's faces are blurry until they move as close as possible to the camera. As the film progresses, the depth of field progressively become deeper. As Mr. Bauby's vision becomes clearer, so do ours. The attention to realism and detail in the film is the most important part of it. The purpose of the attention to detail is clear; the film invites us to become fully immersed in the experience of Jean-Dominique.

Later in the film we are kicked out of Jean-Dominique Bauby's perspective rather abruptly. The cinematographer makes some really unique stylistic choices throughout the film. For example, the scene in which Mr. Bauby is driving in his convertible soon before his stroke, the camera moves often and abnormally. Sometimes the camera focuses upward at the sky and the tops of buildings from inside the car. While many different symbols and other things can be inferred from this stylistic choice, it at the very least sets the film apart from the norm.

As with any film, a combination of cinematography, directing, and editing make a film work or fail but "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly's" cinematography creates a unique and intriguing feel to the film that draws you in and never lets go, even when it kicks you out. September 30, 2008

The Diving Bell and The Butterfly

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Some lines from the script that will give you a flavor of Jean-Dominique Baubly (Jean-Do) and the circumstance of his life.

I am a vegetable, lying in my bed unable to move. My whole body is encased in a kind of diving suit.

I have decided to stop pitying myself. Other than my eye, two things aren't paralyzed. My imagination. And my memory.

These are only two ways I can escape from my diving bell. September 10, 2008

Did not work for me

While the story this film is based on is amazing, the movie itself was rather lukewarm. One would think a story of such caliber would be incredibly moving and inspiring, but somehow the movie failed to either move or inspire me. It struggled hopelessly to make us feel what the character feels, but for me it simply did not work. I could not relate to anyone in this film. I would still recommend it for people who love drama and French films, because it's by no means a bad movie. It just wasn't my cup of tea. September 9, 2008

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