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Sat June 14 the diving bell and the butterfly 12A cert France 2008 Directed
by Julian Schnabel, Starring
Mathieu Almaric, Marie-Jose
Croze, Anne
Consigny, 112 minutes At the age of 43, Jean-Dominique Bauby was at the peak of a glamorous career as editor of a prestigious Parisian fashion magazine. Then he had a stroke, leaving him with “locked-in syndrome” – he could see, hear and understand, but was completely paralysed and incapable of speech. The only movement he was left with was the ability to blink his left eyelid. With ferocious effort, he learnt to communicate with his eyelid using an alphabetical code, eventually dictating a bestselling memoir on which this film is based. Heartbreaking, uplifting and life affirming in equal measure, the film portrays Bauby’s experience of the ‘diving bell’ of his paralysis, and his struggle to regain communication. Filmed largely from his perspective, we share Bauby’s internal monologue – his scathing remarks about nursing staff, his self deprecation, his rage and his frustration. But his caustic wit prevents the film from becoming sentimental – instead it is sweet and restrained, and will have you leaving the cinema determined to seize life with both hands.
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