The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Juicelog Tues 050208: After work, DBB and myself toddled down to the Renoir cinema to watch The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. This flick delves into Jean-Dominique Bauby’s (former editor of Elle magazine) experience of living with “locked-in syndrome” following a paralysing stroke. Locked-in syndrome is a rare condition in which the individual can see, hear and think, but is unable to move or speak.

The only way Bauby is able to communicate is by using his left eyelid and blinking when letters of the alphabet are read out to him. Adopting this technique he painstakingly construct words/sentences which then eventually leads to a brief memoir of his experiences. With a compassionate treatment of the subject matter, you enter the world of this rakish 43yo playboy observing business relations as well as his family and intimate relationships.

Taking on the challenge of trying to represent this cinematically, what is blinked out is very pretty on screen and the dreamlike images of his memories are emotionally engaging. It’s chic and deeply affecting piece of work without coming across as being too overly sentimental.