Starring: Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner
Directed by: Julian Schnabel
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for nudity, sexual content, and some language
US Release Date: Nov. 30, 2007
In French with English subtitles
I went into this film not knowing what to expect. I remember seeing a preview for it a few months ago and thinking that it looked beautiful, but I don’t remember anything else from the preview. All I knew was that I knew I wanted to see it but I wasn’t exactly sure why. Sometimes that’s the best way to go into a movie: Not knowing a damned thing about it, only that you have a gut feeling that you’ll like it.
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” is based on a true story. Jean-Dominque Bauby was the editor of Elle magazine in Paris when he had a completely debilitating stroke at the young age of 43. He was paralyzed from head to toe, what doctors call “locked-in syndrome”, unable to walk, talk, or communicate. He could only blink his left eye, which later a nurse uses to help him communicate. What is remarkable about this story is that as dire as the situation, Jean-Do (as his friends call him) eventually sees hope. Before his stroke, he had arranged a book deal with a publisher and he wants to write his book, with the aid of his nurse, written entirely by his communicating with his left eye.
Every time I’ve tried to recommend this film, I’ve heard the same things, “Wow that sounds depressing”. Yes, it does sound depressing. I mean, the story is very tragic. If you look closer, you’ll find that it’s a tremendously emotional and at times uplifting film. It’s a story of great loss and then great triumph over that loss. There’s nothing like this film. You could compare it to films like “My Left Foot” I suppose, but the comparisons are slim. “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” captivates you, paralyzing you for the entire duration of the film as you sit in awe and wonder at the reality of the events unfolding.
A great majority of the film is told from the point of view of Jean-Do through his one blinking eye. The audience is put in his position as much as possible, even allowing us to hear his internal monologue as he learns of his stroke and finds out he cannot speak. We get to hear his reactions to his visitors and his nurses and doctors. A great deal of it is humorous. Even in his state, he hasn’t lost his sense of humor.
It’s not easy to even imagine yourself in a similar situation. You can imagine all day being locked in a room or in a straightjacket or something, and the feelings of panic, paranoia, claustrophobia that come with it. Still it isn’t close to how Mr. Bauby must have felt. Being trapped in your own body...Wow. It’s a living nightmare.
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” is an amazing film, an experience not to be missed. It’s the ultimate story of overcoming obstacles.
4.5 out of 5 stars
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” is based on a true story. Jean-Dominque Bauby was the editor of Elle magazine in Paris when he had a completely debilitating stroke at the young age of 43. He was paralyzed from head to toe, what doctors call “locked-in syndrome”, unable to walk, talk, or communicate. He could only blink his left eye, which later a nurse uses to help him communicate. What is remarkable about this story is that as dire as the situation, Jean-Do (as his friends call him) eventually sees hope. Before his stroke, he had arranged a book deal with a publisher and he wants to write his book, with the aid of his nurse, written entirely by his communicating with his left eye.
Every time I’ve tried to recommend this film, I’ve heard the same things, “Wow that sounds depressing”. Yes, it does sound depressing. I mean, the story is very tragic. If you look closer, you’ll find that it’s a tremendously emotional and at times uplifting film. It’s a story of great loss and then great triumph over that loss. There’s nothing like this film. You could compare it to films like “My Left Foot” I suppose, but the comparisons are slim. “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” captivates you, paralyzing you for the entire duration of the film as you sit in awe and wonder at the reality of the events unfolding.
A great majority of the film is told from the point of view of Jean-Do through his one blinking eye. The audience is put in his position as much as possible, even allowing us to hear his internal monologue as he learns of his stroke and finds out he cannot speak. We get to hear his reactions to his visitors and his nurses and doctors. A great deal of it is humorous. Even in his state, he hasn’t lost his sense of humor.
It’s not easy to even imagine yourself in a similar situation. You can imagine all day being locked in a room or in a straightjacket or something, and the feelings of panic, paranoia, claustrophobia that come with it. Still it isn’t close to how Mr. Bauby must have felt. Being trapped in your own body...Wow. It’s a living nightmare.
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” is an amazing film, an experience not to be missed. It’s the ultimate story of overcoming obstacles.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Jenny Rushing
beccajane67@yahoo.com
Update: “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” won two Golden Globe awards. One for Best Director, beating out the Coen Brothers for “No Country for Old Men”, Tim Burton for “Sweeney Todd” and Ridley Scott for “American Gangster. Quite a feat! It also won for Best Foreign Language Film, beating out Ang Lee’s “Lust/Caution”.
Update: “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” won two Golden Globe awards. One for Best Director, beating out the Coen Brothers for “No Country for Old Men”, Tim Burton for “Sweeney Todd” and Ridley Scott for “American Gangster. Quite a feat! It also won for Best Foreign Language Film, beating out Ang Lee’s “Lust/Caution”.
I really must insist on telling you a few details about myself before continuing on to the review. And yes, it is pertinent information so don't skip ahead. First, I do not really like musicals. There are a few that I can stand like 
On the other hand, the performances and production values almost make up for the amount of music in the film. Depp is at the top of his game and mesh's very well with Helena Bonham Carter's Mrs. Lovett. Both play their parts to the brink of being over the top without following the music over the edge. Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall are delightfully creepy as Judge Turpin and his assistant Beadle Bamford. Sascha Baron Cohen really stole the show during his short appearance in the film though. His Signor Adolfo Pirelli was absolutely the most fun performance. Burton really should have kept him around longer.
In a nutshell, Tim Burton is the master at creating dark films and when you team him with Johnny Depp you know that you will get your moneys worth. Thus far 
