by Nicole Morgan

Created on: December 19, 2008

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is based on the book of the same name, which was meticulously dictated through the blinking of an eye. Jean-Dominique Bauby, editor in chief of Elle magazine suffered a stroke on December 9th, 1995. When he awoke from a coma, his whole body was paralyzed with the exception of his left eye and very limited movement of his head. With his mental faculties still in tact, Bauby's speech therapist devised a method to enable him to communicate in an attempt to break down the barriers of his Locked-in Syndrome. The result was his 139 page memoir which was published just 10 days before he died of pneumonia.The film, directed by Julian Schnabel chronicles the remarkable and inspirational journey of Bauby and the writing of his book. It is a poignant tale, beautifully shot and with mesmerizing performances. The fact that it is based on such a remarkable true story only adds to the intensity of the film. Schnabel takes the unimaginable despair and loneliness of Locked-in Syndrome to create a breathtaking piece of cinema which is filled with stunning imagery that can't fail to captivate even the coldest of viewers. As the film begins, the viewer experiences the harsh reality of paralysis and Locked-in Syndrome from the point of view of Jean-Do. It's uncomfortable and unsettling but equally captivating and thought-provoking. The viewer is restricted, just as Bauby is and the words which he is unable to vocalize are revealed to us through a touching voiceover. As Bauby's world is revealed to us through flashbacks and re-enactments of his fantasies, the empathy felt towards his character escalates. Mathieu Amalric plays the role of Bauby fantastically and the whole film is approached with honesty, understanding and just the right amount of humour. Max von Sydow also deserves a mention in his role as Bauby's father. The scenes that show the interaction between father and son both before and after Bauby's stroke are poignant and touching.All the actors in the film seem perfectly cast and it's difficult to find fault with this film. Schnabel has taken a sensitive and difficult subject and produced a truly awe inspiring film. And despite the melancholic subject matter, this is a story of hope and optimism. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is filmed in French which adds a certain authenticity to it. The dialogue is poetic but limited so the subtitles don't detract from the stunning visuals on screen. And the film also doesn't fall into the American trap of glorifying Jean-Do's condition and altering events to provide us with a happy ending. I watched this film expecting it to be depressing and upsetting but I was proved wrong. Whilst I can't deny a few tears were shed, it was a heart-warming story told sympathetically and with enough humour to make this a classic film that will undoubtedly stand the test of time. It is warm and surprisingly uplifting and an undeniable cinematic masterpiece.DVD Special Features

The DVD also includes the following addition features:
English feature dub recorded by the original cast
Commentary by director Julian Schnabel
Submerged: The making of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Cinematic vision featurette
Charlie Rose interviews Julian Schnabel
Production photography gallery
Original theatrical trailerI've watched a few of the features which do compliment the film well. It brings a greater understanding of the story of Bauby and also Schnabel's vision in creating the film. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to peruse them all since the DVD needs to be returned to the library today but I think it's a good selection of additional features for the DVD.

Learn more about this author, Nicole Morgan.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.