The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Seen it?2007 | 112 min | Drama, History
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (94% on Rotten Tomatoes), it collected a shelf of major awards and audiences rate it highly (7.6 out of 10). Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs. If you loved I Swear or The Zone of Interest, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 52 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Jean-Dominique Bauby, 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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 92 on Metacritic
- AudiencesStrong
7.6 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 2 Golden Globes: Golden Globe Awards: Best Non-English Language Film, Golden Globe Awards: Best Director. Won 1 BAFTA: BAFTA Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay. Won 1 Cannes award: Cannes Film Festival: Best Director. Also nominated for 4 Oscars, 1 more Golden Globe and 1 more BAFTA. Plus 15 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$20 million worldwide on a $14 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 98K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
I Swear Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed true-story historical drama.
The Zone of Interest Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed true-story historical drama.
Awakenings
Saturday SpecialAnother true-story drama, and a Saturday Special.
Spencer Saturday SpecialAnother true-story drama, and a Saturday Special.
Belfast Saturday SpecialAnother historical drama, and a Saturday Special.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Julian Schnabel
- Mathieu AmalricJean-Dominique Bauby
- Emmanuelle SeignerCéline Desmoulins
- Marie-Josée CrozeHenriette Durand
- Anne ConsignyClaude
- Patrick ChesnaisDr. Lepage
- Niels ArestrupRoussin
- Olatz López GarmendiaMarie Lopez
- Jean-Pierre CasselFather Lucien
- Marina HandsJoséphine
- Max von SydowPapinou