The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly tells the fascinating true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby (Mathieu Amalric), a 43-year-old magazine editor who suddenly finds himself a prisoner in his own body following a debilitating stroke. Assisted by a team of tireless professionals (including a speech therapist superbly played by Marie-Josée Croze), Bauby slowly but surely adjusts to his new situation and even begins working on a book detailing his experiences. Filmmaker Julian Schnabel, along with cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, has infused The Diving Bell and the Butterfly with a striking, almost avant-garde sensibility that’s nothing short of astounding, and the movie, which is endlessly intriguing simply in terms of its visuals, effectively places the viewer in Bauby’s shoes by employing a series of point-of-view shots that never become as oppressive as one might’ve feared. Such stylistic choices, coupled with Amalric’s thoroughly moving performance, ensure that Bauby remains an incredibly sympathetic figure throughout The Diving Bell and the Butterfly‘s running time, with the end result a film that’s as emotionally devastating as it is engrossing.

**** out of ****