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Rated: PG-13
Starring: Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Anne Consigny, Emma De Caunes, Max von Sydow
Directed by: Julian Schnabel
There have been many true-story films in 2007, but not one
quite like this. The Diving Bell and
The Butterfly jumps the gap between over-sentimental and enthrallment with
a story that amazes and captivates. The
excellent film has what most of the other true-story films this year lack,
true compassion.
The Diving Bell and The Butterfly tells the amazing
true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby (Amalric), the compelling editor of French
Elle Magazine who becomes incapacitated by a devastating stroke. Trapped in a body that will only allow him to
blink his eye, Bauby can only dream of his past life.
By happenstance however, armed with a new
alphabet for communication with patients like Bauby, therapists Henriette
(Croze) and Marie (Garamendia) make the breakthrough that allows Bauby to write
with the blink of an eye. Later, Claude (Consigny) a literary assistant, helps
him to develop the work that becomes more than just therapy.
The stellar acting by Amalric is a
show in itself. Done mostly in
flashbacks without his disability, Amalric’s eyes have to tell the story, and
he does it with brilliant manifestation.
But the talented Croze and Garamendia are the winners here as the kind
and relentless teachers that allow the writing of the story by Bauby.
For you Medical
College majors, what
Bauby had was called Locked-In syndrome, a condition in which a patient is aware and
awake, but cannot move or communicate due to complete paralysis of nearly all
voluntary muscles in the body. It is the result of a brain stem lesion in which
the ventral part of the pons is damaged. Locked-in syndrome is also known as
Cerebromedullospinal Disconnection, De-Efferented
State, Pseudocoma, and
ventral pontine syndrome. – Wikipedia 2007
Although there’s some nudity and
sexual content, mature teens accompanied by parents should be able to view The
Diving Bell and The Butterfly with an open mind. Reading the subtitles at a fast pace, however,
may take some doing. The film plays
extremely well to film buffs and Film Festival goers.
FINAL ANALYSIS: The Diving Bell and The Butterfly, an
enjoyable and memorable true story with fine acting and a valuable lesson about
life’s unexpected twists. It’s Oscar
worthy in the Best Foreign Film category and a possible Best Actor nod.
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