The Diving Bell and the
Butterfly
The 2007 film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, directed by
Julian Schnabel, is a beautifully crafted film that reveals a world
in which not many have ventured. The film was adapted from a book
that was written by the main character in both the book and film.
The film and book are based on the actual events of one man's life,
Jean-Dominique
Bauby,
who was tragically “locked-in” his own own body. The film uses
many artistic techniques to reveal what Bauby was thinking and
feeling during his rehabilitation from an embolism that took away his
ability to move all parts of his body, except his left eye. There
are times when the idea of adaptations from book to film seem
limited, this film has captured and perhaps even ventured into realms
the book could only dream of.
Not
only were the visual decisions powerful to help tell the story of
Bauby on film but the choice in audio adds another layer of
understanding of the story. The sounds of the hospital around Bauby
are between muffled and loud due to people having to come in close to
communicate with him. The first time that Bauby's kids are shown in
a scene is out on the beach. It is father's day and the kids play
around the beach as Bauby sits in a wheelchair wrapped up in a
blanket. The scene is amplified by a song called “All the World is
Green” by Tom Waits. The song talks of falling into an ocean,
having a wife, and being by the sea to have a better life. The
choice of the this song is very well thought for the scene. There is
a part of the song where it goes on to talk about how the face
forgives the mirror. The scene gives a strong sense of transition
from solitude and pessimism to Bauby accepting his state. At the
close of the scene he feels torn that he cannot be a regular father
to his children but the following scene of his children kissing him
goodbye solidifies his acceptance of his situation.
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