The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)

Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Crafted with sincerity, told with compassion & retaining its radiant spirit from start to finish, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is an aesthetically pleasing & emotionally fulfilling tale that's tragic, touching & transcending, and despite its heartbreaking premise, manages to provide a cinematic experience that's life-affirming.Based on the memoir of the same name, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly tells the story of Jean- Dominique Bauby after he suffers a massive stroke that renders him paralysed from head to toe. Being able to communicate by blinking his only functioning eye, the plot covers the monumental task he undertakes to write a book, one letter at a time.Directed by Julian Schnabel, the first act of the film is shot entirely from Bauby's perspective that puts the viewers in the protagonist's shoes, allows them to experience the confusion & frustration that he's feeling, and broadens out once the extent of his damage is fully revealed. It's no doubt a smart technique, for it instantly brings the audience on the same wavelength as Bauby.Although majority of the plot unfolds inside the hospital, the story does move out in a much more serene environment as plot progresses and those scenes are gorgeously photographed. Utilising unconventional angles which only work out in its favour, the film also lets us in on his inner voice, sheds more light on his past, and never shies away from showcasing his undeterred imagination.Coming to the acting department, Mathieu Amalric plays Jean-Dominique Bauby from inside out and is absolutely fantastic in the given role. Having nothing but an eye to shape his performance, it's amazing what Amalric pulls off here, for his work isn't just expressive & evocative but amusing as well, when it's meant to be. And he's brilliantly supported by the rest of the cast who play their part responsibly.On an overall scale, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a spiritually elevating tale that beautifully illustrates the power of imagination and is an uplifting account of the indomitable will of the human spirit to overcome near-impossible odds. Wonderfully directed, sensibly scripted, exquisitely shot, patiently edited & splendidly performed, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is discomforting but it's also inspiring. One of the best films of its year.

The real story of Elle magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, who had a stroke and is paralyzed. He has no control over his body except for the left eye. This is definitely an amazing cinematic experience. Almost 45 minutes of the movie in the POV of the paralyzed protagonist. This will make you to feel his helplessness and suffocation. The renowned DOP Janusz Kaminski has done a wonderful job to communicate this feeling. Director Julian Schnabel, actor Mathieu Amalric and all others made a very well impact in the movie.The movie is sad, but give you an energy and motivation to live. Watching this movie will change your views of life at least for some days. When you are so frustrated and tired of life, this is one of the films recommended.Do not miss this movie. Highly Recommended!

The POV story of a man who becomes paralysed by a stroke, and the book he eventually manages to write by blinking at his assistant. In spite of not being faithful to the book and being completely bourgeois, TDBATB powerfully puts across the terrible experience of Jean-Do. The main thrust of the story is of how his wife and mistress react to his condition, and how it's the mistress he really loves in the end. What's very good is Jean-Do's inexpressible anger and cynicism at the patronising and stupid reactions of most of the people he interacts with - in his head. What's not so good is how it's the sentimental story of a privileged narcissist, but the French always do that well.If this ever happens to me, however, I would like my speech therapist to use the system from Breaking Bad - you have a 5x5 matrix board of the alphabet and pick row, then column, to choose your letter. Jean-Do could have saved a good six months of people reciting the alphabet to him. French medical care, eh?

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a touching story about a man who wakes up from a coma, only to realize he is paralyzed and suffers from locked-in syndrome. To survive a stroke is one thing, but to never be able to feel your children's hands or speak with your lover is an incomprehensible feeling that subdues death. Waking up after three weeks to a medical team in a foreign bed is terrifying. To respond to others but only heard by yourself, to love but not capable of showing emotion is an unfathomable experience that this film does an exceptional job of capturing. The producers of this movie understood what it means to be paralyzed, both from a physical and an emotional perspective, and succeed in telling the story of Jean-Do from his point of view.The tremendous tale of Jean-Dominique Bauby is one that captures the essence of human life and pursues the meaning of existence. This seriously thought-provoking motion picture is one for the ages, and is a film that should be praised for its originality and dedication to magnifying the value of life.