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The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Play trailer Poster for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly PG-13 Released Dec 19, 2007 1h 52m Biography Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 176 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Jean-Dominique Bauby (Mathieu Amalric), editor-in-chief of French fashion bible Elle magazine, has a devastating stroke at age 43. The damage to his brain stem results in locked-in syndrome, with which he is almost completely paralyzed and only able to communicate by blinking an eye. Bauby painstakingly dictates his memoir via the only means of expression left to him.
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The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

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Critics Consensus

Breathtaking visuals and dynamic performances make The Diving Bell and the Butterfly a powerful biopic.

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Critics Reviews

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Ben Kenigsberg Time Out Rated: 3/5 Nov 18, 2011 Full Review Joshua Rothkopf Time Out Rated: 3/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian Nothing in director Julian Schnabel's career so far has anticipated the sweetness, sadness, maturity and restraint of this lovely movie. Rated: 5/5 Oct 18, 2008 Full Review Martin Tsai New York Sun Mr. Schnabel’s film is groundbreaking in its rendering of that interior life. Apr 21, 2023 Full Review Dan DiNicola The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY) The movie's overwhelming achievement is its evocation of a life and events without wallowing in any kind of pity or histrionic melodrama. Mar 22, 2021 Full Review Richard Crouse Richard Crouse Never stoops to audience manipulation, it simply presents the story in a simple, heartfelt way and allows the viewer to follow their own feelings rather than have the filmmaker try to tell them how they should be reacting. Rated: 3.5/5 Jan 31, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C Success in 1 hour and 52 minutes!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Sexual Content, Nudity and Some Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In French (France) and English versions with English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Based on a true story!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/09/25 Full Review Paul E An incredible story told well. Definitely worth the watch. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/08/24 Full Review Irving W This movie is an amazing achievement! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/03/24 Full Review KB B This was a compelling movie but so sad. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/07/24 Full Review Gareth v An engaging, heartbreaking film that is about the celebration of life over the sense of loss. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/19/23 Full Review Dave S After suffering a catastrophic stroke, well-loved magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby finds himself the victim of locked-in syndrome, only able to communicate through the blinking of an eye. Julian Schnabel's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a disturbing but inspiring story of resilience and the power of the human spirit, a film that never stoops to maudlin and manipulative means to express its message. Schnabel wisely tells the story primarily from Bauby's point of view, using prolonged POV shots from the perspective of the patient and employing voiceovers to express Bauby's thoughts. Well-acted, ingeniously shot, and smartly written, it never fails to be thought-provoking. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

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Cast & Crew

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Julian Schnabel

Director

Mathieu Amalric

Jean-Dominique Bauby

Emmanuelle Seigner

Celine Desmoulin

Marie-Josée Croze

Henriette Durand

Anne Consigny

Claude

Patrick Chesnais

Dr. Lepage

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The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

A scene from the film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." A scene from the film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." A scene from the film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." A scene from the film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." On the set of the film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Jean-Dominique Bauby (Mathieu Amalric), editor-in-chief of French fashion bible Elle magazine, has a devastating stroke at age 43. The damage to his brain stem results in locked-in syndrome, with which he is almost completely paralyzed and only able to communicate by blinking an eye. Bauby painstakingly dictates his memoir via the only means of expression left to him.
Director
Julian Schnabel
Producer
Kathleen Kennedy, Jon Kilik
Screenwriter
Ronald Harwood, Jean-Dominique Bauby
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
CRRAV, Pathé, Pictanovo, France 3 Cinéma
Rating
PG-13 (Sexual Content|Nudity|Some Language)
Genre
Biography, Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 19, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 21, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.0M
Runtime
1h 52m
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