The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Name: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: November 30, 2007
Duration: 112 min
Rating: 92
Cast: Emmanuelle Seigner, Marie-Josée Croze, Mathieu Amalric

2007

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 235 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 235 Ratings

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The Diving Bell And The Butterfly

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Movie Details & Credits

Miramax Films | Release Date: November 30, 2007 | PG-13

Starring: Emmanuelle Seigner, Marie-Josée Croze, Mathieu Amalric

Summary: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is the remarkable true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, a successful and charismatic editor-in-chief of French Elle, who believes he is living his life to its absolute fullest when a sudden stroke leaves him in a life-altered state. While the physical challenges of Bauby's fate leave him with little hope forThe Diving Bell and the Butterfly is the remarkable true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, a successful and charismatic editor-in-chief of French Elle, who believes he is living his life to its absolute fullest when a sudden stroke leaves him in a life-altered state. While the physical challenges of Bauby's fate leave him with little hope for the future, he begins to discover how his life's passions, his rich memories and his newfound imagination can help him achieve a life without boundaries. (Miramax Film)… Expand

Director: Julian Schnabel

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 112 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Ray Bennett

Director Julian Schnabel and screenwriter Ronald Harwood have performed a small miracle in adapting for the screen Jean-Dominique Bauby's autobiography The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Read full review

100

Joe Morgenstern

The movie has done what those who've cherished the book might have thought impossible -- intensified its singular beauty by roving as free and fearlessly as Bauby's mind did. Read full review

100

David Edelstein

The film is a masterpiece in which “locked-in” syndrome becomes the human condition. Read full review

Peter Rainer

In a film that overwhelmingly avoids happy-faced pronouncements, this one sticks out. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Simultaneously uplifting and melancholy, suffused with an unexpected sense of possibility as much as the inevitable sense of loss. Read full review

Wesley Morris

He even calls the majestic view from one of the hospital landings his Cinecittà, after the legendary Italian film studio. The movie is a Cinecittà of the mind. Read full review

Richard Schickel

Still, somewhat shame-faced I have to admit that at some point in the film I began to hear a subversive voice whispering in my ear, and what it was saying was, "Could you blink a little faster, pal?" Read full review

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User Reviews

JohnB.

Apr 8, 2008

Wow, I was blown away by this movie. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly truly is an experience. The visuals are simply stunning. The characters presented are so real and humanistic. The material here IS depressing but you are immediately thrown into the mind of Bauby, who never asks for Wow, I was blown away by this movie. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly truly is an experience. The visuals are simply stunning. The characters presented are so real and humanistic. The material here IS depressing but you are immediately thrown into the mind of Bauby, who never asks for sympathy, yet never ignores the struggles he goes through. We got the rare opportunity to experience the real human that is in every one of us. Schnabel convinces us we ARE Bauby by using the camera in unique ways. It's interesting. a camera is essentially one eye on set and we are able to see through that one eye, the same one being Bauby's. The camera IS Bauby's eye, the only one he can see through. Absolutely fantastic.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

RandyM

Nov 15, 2008

Utterly stunning. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a beautiful and powerful experience that should not be missed.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Paul

Mar 20, 2008

I dont like many films. They bore me. I want real stories. The art is in the story-telling not the action. A good story is not one whose content is WOW. It's one which is well told. A good story teller can captivate you with tales of how he does his grocery shopping. The plot of this I dont like many films. They bore me. I want real stories. The art is in the story-telling not the action. A good story is not one whose content is WOW. It's one which is well told. A good story teller can captivate you with tales of how he does his grocery shopping. The plot of this film is simple. Man enters coma. Man tries to get better. Man writes book. The End. No guns. No fighting. No sex. Beautifully told. The French have a nack for producing films with a strong artistic bent. Beautifully shot. Dripping with philosophyical weight. This is one such movie. Every 5 minutes a new seed for thought is planted, allowed to flourish and cut down. I implore you to watch this film if you have a concentration span of more than 5 minutes. Typical of criticisms are responses like those ushered by the Time magazine reviewer where he "began to hear a subversive voice whispering in my ear, and what it was saying was, "Could you blink a little faster, pal?" " I cant help but notice the irony when the film questions our "want it all, now" culture by contrasting his life as the editor of a superficial magazine with one where he is forced to think. Indeed it is in this contrast that much character development lies. In subtleties rather than plotlines reminiscent of epic Shakesperean tragedies. Go see it.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful

RyanGee

Sep 29, 2010

The Diving Bell and The Butterfly is seriously one of the best films I have ever seen, and I am just going to disregard anything anyone is going to say about it. I have never felt so emotional when watching a movie, it is truly beautifully miserable; Not to mention that the acting crew is brilliant.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

geewah

Jan 26, 2021

An engaging, heartbreaking film that is about the celebration of life over the sense of loss.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KevinL.

Dec 26, 2007

this was a well-crafted movie with a lot of heart -- but does anyone else find the main character a bit of a chauvinist? He's one of those supposedly "suave" Frenchmen who are given licence to treat beautiful women like trash because...he's French?!? And some women just seem to this was a well-crafted movie with a lot of heart -- but does anyone else find the main character a bit of a chauvinist? He's one of those supposedly "suave" Frenchmen who are given licence to treat beautiful women like trash because...he's French?!? And some women just seem to swoon for this type of guy. It's beyond me. But, in the end, I do like this guy's imagination, his relationship with his father is very touching, and he obviously loves his son. It's a great movie, I just wouldn't wish this creep on any woman I know.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

AnonymousMC

Jan 13, 2008

letter by letter is tedious beyond reason...instead of walking out, of the theatre
I sat there working out faster ways to communicate.
The reviewers that drew me into seeing this most boring movie of the year must themselves be locked into the syndrome. in that situation...we do haveletter by letter is tedious beyond reason...instead of walking out, of the theatre
I sat there working out faster ways to communicate.
The reviewers that drew me into seeing this most boring movie of the year must themselves be locked
into the syndrome.
in that situation...we do have the game 20 questions (animal, mineral , vegetable .)… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful

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4	#4 Best Movie of 2007
77	#77 Most Discussed Movie of 2007
22	#22 Most Shared Movie of 2007