The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Renowned painter Julian Schnable only makes movies about artists. His frank depiction of the life of poet Reinaldo Arenas in Before Night Falls was a bold, sleeper hit in 2000. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is Schnabel’s new venture into the unknown as he tells the true story of Elle magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, who suffered a massive stroke, that left everything but his left eye paralyzed.

Schnable’s immaculate style serves as the film’s storytelling technique. For a majority of the movie, we see life through Bauby’s sole, unfocused, blinking eye. The unique look is due in large part to cinematographer Janusz Kaminski (a Spielberg vet), with words from a snappy screenplay by Oscar winner Ronald Harwood (The Pianist), but enough credit can’t be given to Schnable for crafting such a deeply personal look into a fallen life. Could be a surprise Oscar contender. A