The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

2007 "Let your imagination set you free."
8| 1h52m| PG-13| en| More Info
Released: 30 November 2007 Released
Producted By: France 3 Cinéma
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

The true story of Elle France editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, who, in 1995 at the age of 43, suffered a stroke that paralyzed his entire body, except his left eye. Using that eye to blink out his memoir, Bauby eloquently described the aspects of his interior world, from the psychological torment of being trapped inside his body to his imagined stories from lands he'd only visited in his mind.

Genre

Drama, History

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Director

Julian Schnabel

Production Companies

France 3 Cinéma

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The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Audience Reviews

Wordiezett So much average
Vashirdfel Simply A Masterpiece
Senteur As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.
Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
edward-williams-190-182160 This movie has received an astoundingly high rating. I expect that those, like myself, who wish to excise this experience from our respective memories, probably would prefer to not remind themselves of it by visiting IMDB and leaving a review. I shall soldier on on behalf of the silent masses.I recall The Devil Wears Prada; a cloying, flaccid attempt to paint fashionistas as warm and caring individuals - somehow significant due to their important role in deciding which colour sweater one would need to wear this season in order to not feel inferior - as opposed to the vapid, self-important cretins that they actually are."Wow" fashion editor has a stroke, and writes book with one eye. That is about the size of it. I do not wish to demean victims of that devastating illness. Nor would I detract from a persons achievement in completing a literary work. However, people have strokes every day. And people write bad books every day. I wonder, should I contract terminal cancer and put out a CD of mediocre pop songs describing my situation, if I might have a movie made about me? I expect not. And I have to wonder why Monsieur Bauby's contribution to culture would be any more interesting or relevant to anyone outside his immediate circle?Taking time to read the book, you would quickly get the measure of the man. A text-book fashionista as previously described. From high life, sipping champagne surrounded by beautiful people in all the right clothing, to stroke victim. I can imagine this fall to be all the further should you topple from a pedestal. But does that make it interesting or compelling? Not remotely. All the cinematography and skilled script writing in the world, can not give this film one single grain of substance.You may argue, that against all odds he wrote the book with only one eye. Well, he didn't *actually* write the book with one eye. He dictated it with one eye. In his final days, did he write about the miracle of life, the importance of taking care of each other? Anything noteworthy at all? No, he wrote about himself. Exactly as you would expect.I toiled through this movie with my wife, in desperate hope that at some point the movie or the man would demonstrate some redeeming quality. Alas we were disappointed. I left the movie feeling soiled. Sorry you had a stroke and all. But if having a stroke is what makes you ultimately interesting, it probably wasn't a good idea to make a movie about it. I really - really - do not care.As a private record of this guys life and illness, perhaps for close friends and family, this would be perfect. A very nicely presented home movie. For anyone else, uh. I really should know better, purchasing DVDs with excessively beautiful artwork is always a mistake. Worst of all, I purchased this for $1 in the bargain bin, and the same day my wife coincidentally did also. So now we have 2 copies, double the sinking feeling when scanning past them on the shelf.God I detest this movie, easily in the Top 3 worst movies I ever had the misfortune of seeing.
Sameir Ali 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!
SnoopyStyle Jean-Dominique 'Jean-Do' Bauby (Mathieu Amalric) is transferred to the seaside Berck-sur-Mer hospital near Calais after suffering a stroke leaving him paralyzed and only able to move his left eye. He was the vibrant editor of Elle and family man. Céline Desmoulins (Emmanuelle Seigner) is his partner and mother of his children. Speech therapist Henriette Durant (Marie-Josée Croze) teaches him communicating with only one eye. Through his imagination and flashbacks, he deals with his life such as his shut-in father (Max von Sydow). He had a deal to write a book before the stroke and decides to write one anyways with the help of Claude Mendibil (Anne Consigny).One would expect the monologue first person POV to be a tough watch. It turns out to be quite hypnotic. His need and frustration is so compelling. I still remember the guy turning off his TV. It doesn't hurt to be staring at Marie-Josée Croze's face. Amalric's performance could be easily dismissed but his distorted face is shocking to look at. It's a surprisingly compelling watch all the way through.
elasmarhadi I watched this movie a couple of weeks ago and I really liked it. It's about a man who has a locked-in syndrome and struggles to accept his new "him". The beginning of the movie is just SUBLIME; how the director moves us into bauby's head, so we can see through his eyes, and listen to his mind and live, therefore, the struggle of this unfortunate man, and walk along with him in his hard and long journey. And for this alone i gave it a 9/10. It is well performed and well written and well filmed. To go deeper in the movie, I liked the idea of the detachment of the soul from the body, and how bauby discovers the purest state of humans and experiences the unlimited power of the mind. This movie pushed me to think about who I really am, a soul and a mind. And to question how should i take care of this real me. It's a must watch movie.