DVD
REVIEW: THE DIVING BELL AND THE
BUTTERFLY
04/26/08
Winner of the Golden Globe
Award for Best Foreign Language film of the year and from
best director, “The Diving Bell and The Butterfly” makes its
DVD release on April 29, 2008. The movie which is based on
the amazing story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, is directed by
Julian Schnabel (Before Night Falls) and written by Ronald
Harwood. The film has gained enormous appraisals and
standing ovations from its critics around the world not only
for its remarkable, amazing and inspirational story , but
for the innovative and in genuine talent of Julian Schnabel
to transmit this story to the audience in such of powerful
way.
There are definitely no limits or boundaries to imagination,
specially if it becomes the only way to escape a crisis.
This is the case of editor Jean-Dominique Bauby (Mathieu
Amalrich) who at the peak of his career as Elle magazine
editor suffers a massive stroke leaving him in a vegetative
state without the ability to move or speak known as the
locked-in syndrome. However, as the clock ticks in his
hospital room he carries monologues in reaction to the
people and situations around him, and even has a humor about
his own status. He learns to communicate through his eyelid,
a system created by his therapist to the point of being able
to transcribe a stunning and heartbreaking journal of his
life, which he was able to see published before he died.
This inspiring and human story of how the soul is able to
break all boundaries is truly a master piece.
At the beginning, we see a blurry hospital room with doctors
and nurses. Soon we learn that we are seeing through Bauby’s
eyes and mysteriously see the face of Bauby through a
mirror. In my opinion this mirror is symbolic to the film
because it represent the real (his physical condition) and
unreal (his endless imagination). Also, we are only
listening to Bauby’s voice but nobody else can. This aspect
of the film was crucial for Julian Schnabel, who wanted us
to sympathize with this character and he is successful at
accomplishing this mission. The audience will feel as the
only companion and ear to Bauby’s pleads, emotions and
feelings. It is through Bauby’s flashbacks that we learn
about what his life was like before the accident and what
actually happened to him. With a mind intact and a sad
story, Julian Schnabel has turn it into a triumphant work of
art, where his director potential exceeds expectations.
Needless to mention that even though the film takes place
for the most part in the hospital, it is not boring. It is
drama for the insightful adult.
Overall there are films that entertain and films that make
the adrenaline flow around your body, but there are
masterpieces like “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” that
leave us with profound thoughts about the human soul and its
power to survive in the presence of adversity.
VIDEO:
1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
AUDIO:
English,
Spanish and French
5.1 (Dolby Digital) English SDH.
Subtitles - English Spanish - Optional
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Submerged: A look inside The Diving Bell and the
Butterfly:
An inside look at the making of the film featuring
commentaries from the director, producer and the cast. (12:40)
Cinematic Vision:
In this featurette the director, producers and cast
talk about how it was to shoot the film in a first person
perspective. (7:14)
Audio Commentary with
Director Julian Schnabel
Charlie Rose Interviews
Julian Schnabel (22:44)
RATING BREAK DOWN:
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VIDEO |
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AUDIO |
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