295: The Diving Bell And The Butterfly

E. S. A. R. I. N. Six letters that begin a specialist alphabet which is both a symbol of hope and entrapment for the central figure of The Diving Bell And The Butterfly, ex-editor of Elle Magazine, Jean Dominique Bauby. Through the use of this alphabet, Bauby paralysed entirely apart from one eyelid, learns to communicate by spelling every word he wants to say through a series of blinks, eventually writing a book using this method. The viewers of the film are privy to all of Bauby's thoughts, dreams and memories which show him to be a witty and spirited individual confined by his own body and forced to communicate through this enduring process.


The film culminates with Bauby finishing his book, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" of the title. The Diving Bell, is alluded to throughout the film, is Bauby's own metaphor for his body encased in a suit surrounded by water where escape and movement is impossible. The Butterfly appears to be both the woman transcribing Bauby's book for him and Bauby's own desire to break free of a Chrysalis and fly away.


Hearing and seeing everything Bauby hears, sees and thinks draws the viewer in whilst giving a sense of how it may feel to be in such a condition, the terror of new doctors and their patronising tone is conveyed brilliantly and resonates long after the film has finished. One example, where a new doctor opts to use the familiar version of Bauby's name, Jean Do without asking is infuriating. The frustration felt by Bauby is found in his interior monologue which screams for certain small things like being able to watch a football match.


Gorgeous flashbacks to Bauby's life before he was paralysed bring a sense of what he was to those around him, the juxtaposition of him as a father before and after he was paralysed is somewhat haunting. Scenes showing him as the centre of attention at a photo shoot and then his barely full visitors book in the hosipital are particularly brutal. The thing that remains constant is Bauby himself, who is just as funny and clever as he ever was.

Through the superb editing it becomes apparent how good Mathieu Amalric's performance is, seeing him before and after his accident combined with the emotion conveyed in Bauby's narration make his performance a lasting one. The supporting cast is also superb, Max Von Sydow gives a heartbreaking performance in just two scenes as Bauby's father trapped in his own way. Emmanuelle Seigner plays Bauby's transcriber who appears to fall for Bauby as they write his book together and showing the intimacy she has with him as the only person with full access to his thoughts and desires.


The Diving Bell And The Butterfly has both the power to be uplifting or heartbreaking, this depends entirely on the view you take of the character of Bauby seen as either the Bell or the Butterfly transforming in front of our very eyes.