The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
This unique foreign film is based on the memoir of the same title by French journalist, Jean-Dominique Bauby.
For those unfamiliar - Bauby was a prominent journalist for ELLE until he suffered a massive stroke that knocked him into a coma for 20 days. When he awoke he found that he was 100% mentally aware of his surroundings but his body was left completely immobile except for slight movements of his head and the ability to blink his left eye. He also couldn’t speak.
Despite these limitations he was able to dictate his memoirs.
I’m a big fan of foreign film and will watch them when I need a brain charge. However, I found Diving Bell and the Butterfly a little lacking in substance. You watch the majority of the film from the perspective of Bauby but it looses a lot of steam by dong this. Though it does give the viewer a strong idea of what it must have been to live as him.
Still, if you are into foreign film, Bell and the Butterfly does deserve a viewing. Rent it and maybe you won’t bore you like it did me.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Could have been more interesting as a documentary but still have to give props to the director attempting to make an artistic film of a truly remarkable human being.
3 out 5 Fish Heads!
