The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - a review
March 31st 2008 01:12
Julian Schnabel has discovered a second passion in his life, film-making. Firstly, he was known for being a famous and controversial painter of the eighties. But now, with his new film, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Le Scaphandre et le Papillon), he’s found another medium to thrive in.
A film of elemental power, it is adapted from a memoir by Jean-Dominique Bauby, French Ellle’s brash and powerful editor. At age 43, Bauby had a stroke, leaving him paralysed, with lock-in syndrome, where his could only move his left eyelid. Through determination, patience and frustration, Bauby wrote the entire book by blinking his left eyelid.
Before seeing the film, such a premise seemed impossible, yet undoubtedly it is a visually stunning piece of art. It is a fine and cleverly crafted film helped by Ronald Harwood’s accomplished script. The film conveys a strong feeling of claustrophobia without it being a wholly depressing experience, which is quite extraordinary.
In a Normandy hospital, alongside the dedicated amanuensis, Henriette Duand, they begin using a laborious and at times seemingly unlikely form of communication. Henriette listed the French frequency-ordered alphabet (E S A R I N T U L etc.), until Bauby blinked to choose a letter. The completed book took about 200,000 blinks to write and each word took approximately two minutes.
His first complete sentence was ‘I want death’. As a viewer, this wish seemed completely understandable.
For the first half of the film, we saw Bauby’s experiences through his eyes and body. We have access to his thoughts even though his mouth won’t respond. These early scenes are witty and active infused with Bauby’s brusque humour. This device takes the viewer into one of the most confusing, complex and amazing worlds –the mind. We saw the room as he would see it, tilted, as his head usually rested to one side. We heard his thoughts, his frustrated delight at being able to look down Henriette’s dress at her breasts yet not being able to touch them. We heard him screaming internally to try and be heard. We hear his pain from his perspective, quite literally.
Through the adept talents of cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, our views dart around as Bauby's eye would move. It never becomes tiresome because we're constantly aware of his thoughts. He feels like a man trapped in a diving suit but he says there are two things not paralysed - "my imagination and my memory". These take flight as he lies there (hence the butterfly of the title), in startling montages filled with things he loves: food, women, his work and his children. These images and experiences are his salvation.
We learn of Bauby’s life before the accident through these scenes and gain a sense of his being. He imagines experiencing the food he can’t eat, the places he can’t visit and the sex he can’t have. Colour, music and memories are all used as the sensory brushstrokes in this giant portrait of human life. And by learning to explore his memory and imagination, Bauby discovered a kind of freedom and humanity he’d never known as a prince of the Parisian fast life.
Bauby retains his macabre, sarcastic sense of humour heard through his thoughts. He doesn’t want to be treated or thought of as a vegetable, in fact, when a visiting friend tells him that people at their work think he is a vegetable, his answer is, ‘what kind of vegetable, a carrot or a pickle?’ The story is dispersed with Bauby’s scornful humour, where the audience is given permission to laugh, which at times, was a relief. Can you imagine how annoying it would be to watch a football game - and then just before kick-off someone comes in and turns it off and you can’t say a thing? Bauby’s internal dialogue was just as colourful as I would imagine it would be out-loud.
We squirm as the doctor states that he needs to sew his right eye up otherwise it will become septic. We hear Bauby yelp with fear, cry for him to stop and see the needle move towards his eye as the doctor announces in a patronising and jovial tone, ‘now, you won’t feel a thing’. I yearned for the doctor to be silent seeing as he was incapable of comforting Bauby with respect.
We feel Bauby’s frustration and indignation when forced to listen to inane dialogue from doctors who patronised him by repeatedly describing things as being a ‘surprise’. Nothing was a surprise, it was all a nightmare. This joviality continues when the doctor gives Bauby is a mirror to see himself for the first time, as though he is likely to be pleased with what he sees. He isn’t. He is horrified and shocked, describing himself as looking like ‘a vat of formaldehyde’ with his head tilted to the side, one eye sown up and saliva dribbling down his chin.
Schnabel won the best director award at last year's Cannes film festival, a well-earned achievement. Janusz Kaminski (Saving Private Ryan 1998, Schindler's List 1993) received a nomination but unfortunately didn’t win but nonetheless, it was indeed an honour, especially he had no previous experience in working on a French film.
The film had a special resonance for Schnabel. He was aware of Jean-Dominique Bauby's extraordinary memoir for many years, but he never thought he could be involved in its production. Schnabel had just lived through his own father's terminal illness, and stated as seen in the film clip below, that under those circumstances, he couldn't help but be inspired by the film’s premise. Schnabel told interviewers that The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was his way of processing and coming to terms with his own mortality. ‘I made this movie, and I'm not afraid to die.’
Bauby’s book was published in France in 1997. Ten days after the book was published, Bauby died of pneumonia.
Julian Schnabel: Reasons for making 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly':
Trailer:
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Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by Tracy
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I don't think we can apply the system to all of us!!
I'd definitely recommend it,
Tracy
Comment by Aimzster
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Comment by Tracy
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I was astounded myself. Such an act of determination and dedication by both Bauby and his speech therapist.
Tracy
Comment by katyzzz
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Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I saw it a few weeks ago and have been working on it since then. For some reason it took a while for me to get the parts to gel together.
Thanks for popping in,
Tracy
Comment by katyzzz
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Comment by Holly Go Lightly
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Mich
Comment by Tracy
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Good to see you,
Tracy
Comment by Tracy
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I know what you mean about being unsure how Bauby could’ve been able to write a book. At first, it looked implausible, but slowly it seemed to work. It was a magnificent feat, and it was quite incredible to watch.
He was determined to persevere, as was Henriette.
It’s a film I would highly recommend seeing if you get a chance.
Thanks for your compliment and for popping in,
Trace
Comment by What's Your Story?
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Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
oh my word talk about a story of determination! that makes me feel USELESS when I can type so many words a minute and put off writing at times.
Excellent review as always, will have to keep an eye out for this one.
Ash
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Glad you enjoyed the review. Wonderful is definitely an apt way to describe Bauby and the film.
Thanks for popping in,
Tracy
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I know what you mean... after seeing the film, when I was tired and unmotivated about doing something, I remembered Bauby’s tenacity. How did he do it?
Thanks for popping in, enjoy your travels!!
Tracy
Comment by tlcorbin
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Comment by Tracy
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Feel free to pop back and let me know what you think if you do see it, Raven.
Thanks,
Tracy
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Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
Actually, this happened to a dear friend of mine, she could blink her left eye only, it was tough visiting her, she operated on a yes/no system only.
mercifully my dear friend died....gee...that was uplifting...
should have left it at the bad taste joke...
cheers
fog
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Thanks for telling me about your friend, that must've been hard and sad for you both. I'm sorry for your loss.
On a different note, I like the title! And why not, after all there was a film called My Left Foot...
Thanks for popping in,
Tracy
Comment by Mountain Fog
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QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
yes dear...I know...hence the joke!
tee hee
fog
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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Comment by Tracy
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Thanks for popping in, I'm glad you like the review.
It's a unique film that is well-done. I'd definitely recommend it if you have the chance,
Tracy
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Terrific review, I have been meaning to check this out ever since I heard about the bold POV cinematography. The story is indeed the stuff of miracles.
Hope all is well in your world.
Comment by Lara M
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Comment by Tracy
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Comment by Tracy
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I’m well thanks, hope you are too.
Yes, the cinematography is astounding. It’s an extremely effective way to involve the viewer in a story and learn a character’s thoughts.
The story and the film is one that will stay with me for a long time.
Thanks for popping in,
Tracy
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
It's good to see you. Last time we talked about this film, I looked into buying the book and never did...after this I will look again and commit
Glad you enjoyed the review,
Tracy
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Great review. I had considered seeing this movie but just thought it would be too depressing. After reading this, I might just have to check it out
Kylie
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I can understand what you mean, but Bauby's brusque, sarcastic thoughts/comments allow us to have occasional laughs which I found to be a relief.
Thanks for popping in,
Tracy
Comment by Miswanderlust
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Wonderful review but I am not sure that I can actually watch it. I am kind of a weanie about such strong subjects. Maybe I will rent it later and watch it in small doses.
Mis
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Good to see you, I'm glad you liked the review.
I know what you mean about finding it hard to watch some films. There are some that I know would be good to see, but I cannot watch because of something in the content.
Thanks for popping over,
Tracy
Comment by Linh
Celluloid Fun
This is a brilliant film and I loved it.
I reviewed it on another blog before I joined Orble.
Cheers!
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
It is particularly notable isn't it?
Thanks for popping in,
Tracy
Comment by HollyWood
It is an astounding film, just the very premise of it alone. Strokes are fairly commonplace, and not much discussed for the great tragedy that they can become, as in Bauby's case. Diving Bell instructs and informs us, but with both great rawness AND poignancy, and even, unbelievably, humour. Hard to watch but hopefully Bauby & Schnabel have initiated a new compassion for the condition that so many of us see our relatives endure and which in turn also threatens us.
Thx for discussing
Regards
HollyWood
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I totally agree with what you said: Diving Bell instructs and informs us, but with both great rawness AND poignancy, and even, unbelievably, humour.
Humour was a deft creation by Bauby & Schnabel, one that could've easily been misplaced. It is a film that sucessfully evokes compassion and wondering.
Thank-you for commenting,
Tracy