Le scaphandre et le papillon...

Le Scaphandre et le Papillon - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

This is undoubtably one of the most moving films I have ever seen. From the second it begins the distorted imagery and the unusual view point intrigues you and drags you in. The film is based on a true story about the ex editor of French 'Elle' magazine Jean-Dominique Bauby who at the age of 43 suffers with a rare condition which paralyses his entire body apart from his left eye. Not only is the entire film created as if you are looking through his eyes, but it also enables you to hear his thoughts that he cannot express to the people around him which really made you empathise with the character. You an really feel his frustration as he tries to express his feelings and emotions with the people around him. You can also feel his pain as suspension grows as he struggles to see what he now looks like, it isn't until about half an hour in that he glimpses his face in a reflection and doesn't recognise himself. Whilst suffering from this terrible condition, Bauby learns how to communicate using just his left eye. This system leads to him composing a book about his struggle as he painstakingly communicates each letter blink by blink.

Throughout the film there is a constant feeling of hope, not as much with Bauby himself but with the people around him. You are constantly being reminded that he is making progress and is gaining some control oh his body.

Towards the end of the film you begin to understand what he was like before the stroke as you see a mixture of memories and dreams which depict his relationship with the people around him.

The films ends simply by telling us that Bauby died only two days after his book was published. This is a huge shock to the viewer who has been told all the way through that he is making remarkable progress and the implication is that one day he will recover.