Le scaphandre et le papillon (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly)

This is the most recent film that made it into my all time favourite list, and it is really not such a long list at all.

Synopsis:

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a 2007 French film based on the memoir of the same name by Jean-Dominique Bauby. At 42, Bauby had a stroke that rendered him paralysed – except for his left eyelid. He is only able to communicate by blinking. Prior to the incident, he signed a contract to complete a book. Bauby decides he will still write a book, hence a woman from the publisher is hired to dictate for him, letter by letter.

Review:
If you are the kind of people who are mostly concerned with ‘what happens’ in a film, you will likely find this extremely depressing. We have someone who once had everything and lost everything in a split second. Jean-Do is trapped in his own body. His mind is still very much active, his ambitions, wishes and even basic desires cannot be fulfilled now. If you are the kind of people who want happy endings, nope, there is none.

However, in my opinion, instead of ‘depressing’, ‘emotionally uplifting’ is a much accurate description of this beautiful film.

At the beginning, Jean-Do doesn’t see the point in trying the terribly tiresome form of communication. He clearly doesn’t see the point in living because he cannot do anything by himself. But he soon realises that he is capable of imagination and remembrance, which means that he isn’t actually trapped. His mind is free.¹ And because of his state, he is able to look back and reflect on his decisions and relationships before this condition.

While he is constantly quite frustrated, especially waking up from his imagination², he is grateful for the people around, who take the time to communicate with him. He told his reciter that he is dragging her down with “the diving bell”, to which she replied “but you are my butterfly”. This is one of the most unforgettable moments in the film, Jean-Do still manages to move and have an impact on other lives after the stroke.

I was sobbing throughout the film, but it was a fantastic experience because I had never cried for so many reasons at the same time. It is poignant but touching, it makes you feel helpless but also very amazed. Realising that you have something to regret, to cry about in itself is something to be happy about. The ability to think and to feel is perhaps all you need for a rich and wonderful life.

(Jeez. When will I write about a film in English? )

1. A part mon œil il y a deux choses qui ne sont pas paralysées : mon imagination et ma mémoire” [↩]
2. “Fuck, it was a dream.” He says. [↩]