Le scaphandre et le papillon

Jean-Dominique Bauby (Mathieu Amalric) is trapped inside his body. The 43-year-old editor-in-chief at fashion magazine Elle has suffered a stroke, is unable to speak, and can only move one of his eyelids. Yet Bauby doesn’t give up: he is still conscious and in possession of his memories. With the help of his eyelid and an assistant, he dictates his autography by blinking - an expression of his affirmation for life. The subjective camerawork follows his perception: glowing light, echoing voices, colored points, fuzzy outlines, brief images of black. This point of view become an external perspective when flashbacks recalls the highs and lows of his restless life. In this moving film. Mathieu Amalric plays Bauby by making use of the few possibilities the role permits. (bik)