Haunting and beautiful (The Diving Bell And The Butterfly (DVD))

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	The Diving Bell And The Butterfly (DVD)
Date:	01/09/09 (2 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Everything

Disadvantages: Nothing, unless you hate subtitles

note: also appears in part on Flixster and The Student Room

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is based on the French memoir of the same name by Jean-Dominique Bauby, a journalist for Elle magazine who become afflicted with Locked-In Syndrome, where the victim becomes entirely paralysed physically except for the use of their eyes, whilst all of their mental faculties remain in tact. Bauby died a mere two days after the book was published, and the case recieved considerable media attention. In this film, directed by Julian Schnabel, Bauby's memory gets a sensitive, achingly humanistic treatment with great performances and plenty of stylistic flair.

The film's success belongs to two facets - Mathieu Amalric's performance as Bauby, which is heartbreaking to watch, but fascinatingly performed, and should have earned him an Academy Award nomination in the least. Also of note is Schnabel's direction, which depicts large portions of the film through Bauby's eyes, allowing the viewer to gain some perspective of how he lived his final years. It is beautiful and ethereal, and whilst a tragic subject, Schnabel manages to make his final passage in life a poignant and meaningful odyssey.

With huge critical acclaim and four Oscar nominations, the film was a considerable success in all sectors, although of course, it being foreign, the subtitles are always going to deter some viewers. Nevertheless, it's well worth a watch, even if you just focus on the visuals, both as a stunning account of a man's battle both to maintain his dignity and to contend with one of the most horrifying ailments known to man. Almaric is simply fantastic, and the film is an incredibly moving, often haunting account of Bauby's life.

Julian Schnabel's film is a sensitive, emotional depiction of the struggle of Jean-Dominique Bauby's final years. Aesthetically, the film is a marvel to behold, and is supported by devoted performances throughout.

Summary: A moving and tragic film