Christina Tyler 11/23/09 20th Humanities TR 2:30-3:45 The Diving Bell & The Butterfly The Diving Bell

and the Butterfly is the compelling film about Jean-Dominique Baubys journey through dealing with his full body paralysis. Bauby was a man who lived his life in the fast lane until a stroke took his ability of mobility, save for one eye. He was completely aware of his surroundings and was mentally sharp but could only communicate his inner monologue by blinking. The movie tells his life as it was occurring after he woke up from his coma and in flashback. The story, of course, is told from his perspective. The audience alone can hear his true thoughts, expressing his feelings of anger, despair, hopelessness, loneliness and sometimes hope. The film begins with Bauby hearing from his doctors about how his body is failing him, while his mind has not. He is unable to accept what is happening and feels nothing but beaten and unhappy. Baubys friend Roussin tells him, cling to what makes you human. This is when his view of his new life turns around. Bauby is still not the man he once was but now draws his strength from the things that he has always loved, such as music, art, theatre and books. Bauby is also put into a position to deal with religion as a way to cope with his ailment. These things are what makes us who we are; our music, movies, books and philosophy or religion. M.Bauby spends the entire movie focusing on communication; trying to speak or blinking his ideas. It was not lost on me that his first hint of verbal communication was when he attempted to sing.

People take for granted the enjoyment they get from simply singing along to their favorite songs. Music has the ability to shape our mood or outlook; the sad thing about his moment of happiness and triumph is that he hurts himself trying to sing. He is also taken to a cardinal by one of his nurses to pray for his recovery. This is lost on him since he is not a man of faith. He feels these prayers from people all over the world, from many different faiths, is a waste on him. The hospital Bauby is trapped in has a rich history, causing him to imagine Naginski dancing his way down the halls. He visualizes the ballerinas gliding gracefully down the hall; savoring their elegant movements, aware that his body cannot compete.