I apologise, we feel bad, but there's no trailer available. ~Ed.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a visually stunning film, delivering the tragic story of Jean-Dominique ‘Jean-Do’ Bauby. Mid-career, as editor of Elle magazine, Jean-Do suffers a severe stroke and winds up with ‘locked-in syndrome’, completely paralysed physically (with the exception of his left eyelid) but completely functioning mentally. (The film is based on Jean-Do’s memoirs, written whilst in this paralysed state. Painstakingly, a transcriber would list the letters of the alphabet in order of frequency until Jean-Do blinked for the letter he wanted.)
The cinematography brilliantly perceives Jean-Do’s mental suffering, so that as an audience we engage completely from his perspective. We do not see his deformed physical self until he does. The fleeting reflection of Jean-Do in the windowpane is as much a shock for us as it is he. Director and artist Julian Schnabel handles the camera with the fragmentary potential of his 1980s ceramic paintings. He uses the camera to mirror the mental state of the protagonist. It is refreshing to see a film that utilises the tools of the medium with such vigour.
The story flutters back and forward to reveal the handsome man of Jean-Do’s past, his failed relationships, his regrets and his successes. After the diagnosis, relationships are strained between Jean-Do and old friends and flames, some are lost and others formed as he adjusts to a life completely reliant on others. The performances are understated and uniformly excellent – most heartbreaking is Jean-Do’s father played by Max von Sydow.
Shots intertwine reality with dream and imagination. Voiceover delivers Jean-Do’s developing philosophy on life and what such a loaded word defines. Surreal images, point of view shots and dream sequences deliver us the world as he perceives it. Schnabel avoids sentimentality, nor does he evoke pity for Jean-Do. We witness something else entirely, both tragic and life affirming, a far more honest film than Schnabel’s earlier biopic Basquiat.
A unique film experience and utterly immersive.
By Selina Foote, Flicks.co.nz
could a movie be any more boring than this peurile trash? for a truly great movie with a similar theme check out johnny got his gun written by the wonderful dalton trumbo.
great movie
Most of us felt we had motion sickness within the first three minutes of watching this movies filmed out of "a blinking eye". Both people next to me slept through most of the movie - and that seemed to be the most preferable option if you end up having to endure this movie. While quite possibly his book may have been fascinating to read (knowing his condition when he wrote it) - watching the process of him spelling out each word "e,s,a,r" for 2 1/2 hours was mind numbingly boring ... (also, while this might not be very PC - the guy seemed like a bit of a prick) ...
Unfortunately didn't feel any empathy with the character ... slept through most of the movie.
This is by far the most engaging and thought provoking film I've seen in a very long time. Fantastically filmed. Definitely a must see. However, if you are only in to Hollywood films, don't bother - it's not made for you!
1/2 The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Le Scaphandre et le Papillon) is a stunning achievement. The American-French film-makers have made a remarkable film from a well-loved book that at first glance would seem unfilmable.
A poignant reflection on what it means to be alive and, visually, a true cinematic experience.
Schnabel's film is so steeped in the visual that it is surely the purest of cinema.
Simultaneously uplifting and melancholy, suffused with an unexpected sense of possibility as much as the inevitable sense of loss.
A bracingly unsentimental adaptation of a memoir of a paralysed man is the most dynamic film in years.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 22nd May 2008.
Release date: May 22nd 2008.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
