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The Diving Bell And The Butterfly

Posted by sjb on December 10, 2007 at 08:53:03:
This is the filmed memoir of Jean-Dominique Bauby.

Bauby, who was the editor of Elle in France, had a massive stroke like episode which left him paralyzed from head to toe except for his left eye and, over time, some slight movement in his mouth.

His condition, called "locked in syndrome" left him able to hear and understand but unable to speak or, obviously, move. With the help of some extremely patient and dedictaed caretakers and therapists he was able to communicate by blinking his left eye (once for yes, twice for no) and eventually to have someone dictate his thoughts by responding with a blink each time the appropriate letter was reached as they recited the alphabet.

In this way, he eventually wrote the book (composed in his head and recited one slow letter at a time) upon which the movie is based.

The film is almost all from his perspective and, especially early on, can be disorienting and quite uncomfortable - physically and emotionally - as the film makers want us to "experience" his POV. It is in these sequences that the the film was at its best (with one notable exception that I'll get to later). To see, hear and feel the world from within his mind is where the film has the most energy and tragedy and humor. As Bauby moves away from the self pity that would most certainly overwhelm most people we move from his POV into his memory and imagination. Here the director (Julian Schnabel) uses visual references that don't always resonate and tells stories of his past that don't always mean much but are highlighted as if they do (a trip to Lourdes was one such instance).

The acting was all very, very good and for me the absolute highlight of the film was two scenes with Bauby's father played by Max Von Sydow; who towers over the other actors with his intensely poignant performance. I'd recommend the film without him but for anyone who cares to see a master being a master his perfromance alone is worth the price of admission.

"You can safely assume you have created God in your own image when he hates all the same people you do."