Movie Notes: The Diving Bell And The Butterfly

January 10th, 2010

= 5 stars

Starring Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Max Von Sydow
Directed by Julian Schnabel

Synopsis

Based on the true story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who suffered a debilitating stroke resulting in “locked-in” syndrome, paralyzing his entire body save for his eyes, imprisoning his still-lucid mind within.

The Good

• The first half is filmed from Bauby’s point of view — you are literally experience being trapped in a body where vision is your only sensation and communication is severely limited. We’re forced to empathize with Bauby without any knee-jerk aversion to his physical appearance. Yet while watching any movie, we’re in a similarly limiting observational state, watching what others do; unable to communicate with the characters on screen.
• Doesn’t shy away from Bauby’s condition, and at times shockingly blunt about his emotional reactions to his circumstances.
• I avoided this movie for quite some time, assuming the subject matter would be too depressing, but I found it quite uplifting and eventually a positive comment on the resilience of the human spirit. Bauby begins communicating through eye-blinks, and writes an entire bestselling novel upon which this film is based.

The Bad

• Some liberties taken with the true-life story, namely whether Bauby’s ex-girlfriend or mother spent more time with him in the hospital.

Conclusion

The Diving Bell And The Butterfly is a testament to the tenacity of the human spirit — how will, thought, and desire can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. The film’s final sequence left me feeling that life is a fragile thing, which at any moment can change forever, and even a difficult life, some can find meaning and the will to persevere. The simplest images containing everyday things, can seem revelatory when seen through another person’s eyes. A new perspective and appreciation of another’s point of view is the essence of movies.

IMDB: The Diving Bell And The Butterfly
Wikipedia: The Diving Bell And The Butterfly
Rotten Tomatoes: The Diving Bell And The Butterfly