XoWizIama Excellent adaptation.

Numerootno A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

Bergorks If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

SnoopyStyle Jean-Dominique 'Jean-Do' Bauby (Mathieu Amalric) is transferred to the seaside Berck-sur-Mer hospital near Calais after suffering a stroke leaving him paralyzed and only able to move his left eye. He was the vibrant editor of Elle and family man. Céline Desmoulins (Emmanuelle Seigner) is his partner and mother of his children. Speech therapist Henriette Durant (Marie-Josée Croze) teaches him communicating with only one eye. Through his imagination and flashbacks, he deals with his life such as his shut-in father (Max von Sydow). He had a deal to write a book before the stroke and decides to write one anyways with the help of Claude Mendibil (Anne Consigny).One would expect the monologue first person POV to be a tough watch. It turns out to be quite hypnotic. His need and frustration is so compelling. I still remember the guy turning off his TV. It doesn't hurt to be staring at Marie-Josée Croze's face. Amalric's performance could be easily dismissed but his distorted face is shocking to look at. It's a surprisingly compelling watch all the way through.

Python Hyena The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007): Dir: Julian Schnabel / Cast: Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Max Von Sydow, Marie-Josee Croze, Anne Consigny: Depressing yet provocative film about freedom of mind and body. It is the true story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby whose life halts when he awakens from a coma. He can hear and understand but unable to communicate. Director Julian Schnabel does a fantastic job at emphasizing immobility. The feeling isn't pleasant even for the viewer but that is precisely why the film works. Mathieu Amalric brilliantly plays off the paralysis. He uses his eyes to indicate communication but his fate is more a relief to the audience when they would likely prefer the same thing. Emmanuelle Seigner plays the mother of his three children who sticks by him thick and thin. Max Von Sydow plays his father whose own memory is fading. He can sympathize with his son but within his own disability he is at similar loss. Marie-Josee Croze displays the patience of a social worker. Her highlight is the techniques she teaches him in his process of effective communication. The role is fairly straight forward but Croze nails it creating a scene stealing performance. Anne Consigny also makes an appearance. Film gives strong sense of being paralyzed, which makes it more effective than pleasant. Score: 8 / 10

Rich Wright Based on a true story of a young French fashion editor who had a stroke and ending up unable to move a muscle in his body as a result, it's an inspiring tale of guts and determination. Suffering from a condition known as Locked In Syndrome, he manages to communicate with the help of a driven speech therapist and even starts to write a book, coincidentally enough, with the same name as this movie. You see, metaphorically speaking he's in this 'Diving Bell' underwater so he can't budge an inch, but his imagination 'The Butterfly' is free to roam. Meh, you'll understand it when you're older.I can only imagine the horror of being stuck in a lifeless husk of a body... I think I'd want to die. The guy is far braver than I am.... every day people bathe him, dress him, assist him with his toilet functions... and yet he still manages to smile and retain his rather dark sense of humour. Either that or go insane, I suppose. We see his life before the tragedy, and there is rather a sad irony in his actions in the past, considering his current status. Could this be a form of cosmic justice?Mathieu Amalric is breathtakingly good as the paraplegic lead. A lot of the movie is shot from his POV, and we get a real feel for his character as he experiences ups and downs while adjusting to his new outlook on life. Emmanuelle Seigner is just plain adorable as the lady who helps him find his voice... she's so pretty, you can see how he mistakes her for an angel at first glance. As a triumph over adversity flick, it's a good 'un, and lacks the cheese factor you would associate with an American entry into this genre. Recommended. 7/10

elasmarhadi I watched this movie a couple of weeks ago and I really liked it. It's about a man who has a locked-in syndrome and struggles to accept his new "him". The beginning of the movie is just SUBLIME; how the director moves us into bauby's head, so we can see through his eyes, and listen to his mind and live, therefore, the struggle of this unfortunate man, and walk along with him in his hard and long journey. And for this alone i gave it a 9/10. It is well performed and well written and well filmed. To go deeper in the movie, I liked the idea of the detachment of the soul from the body, and how bauby discovers the purest state of humans and experiences the unlimited power of the mind. This movie pushed me to think about who I really am, a soul and a mind. And to question how should i take care of this real me. It's a must watch movie.