Watch The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a drama based on the story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, the editor of Elle magazine, who suffered a stroke. The stroke leaves him completely paralyzed except for his left eye. At only 43 years old, Bauby struggles to recover from locked-in syndrome. This means that he is aware of his surroundings and awake but cannot move or communicate with people.

The film was directed by Julian Schnabel. The story is told from Bauby's perspective in the first part of the film when he comes out of a coma. He is located at a hospital in France. He learns he has locked-in syndrome. This is a shock to him.

He undergoes therapy with a speech and physical therapist who try to help him recover as best they can. He develops a system of communication with the therapist by blinking his left eye. During this time, he has fantasies of visiting Lourdes, visiting beaches and mountains and having encounters with sexy women. He decides to finish writing the book he had a contract for, using his new system of communications.

Therapists bring in a woman to take dictation to help him get started on the book. The book he writes explains what it is like for him to be trapped in his body. Those that know him still see his spirit is alive through the book. His life flashes before him in memories and dream sequences. We see the mother of his three children, his mother, his father and friends. We learn others share his fate, like his 92-year-old father, who is confined to an apartment because he is too weak to walk down four flights.

Bauby's book is published. He dies of pneumonia two days after its publication. This movie is suitable for children 14 and over and adults. It has sex, violence, and strong language.