The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Julian Schnabel

This 2008 Oscar-nominated film gorgeously paints the true, heart-rending story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, late editor of French Elle. Well-known and loved by the French fashion-elite, Bauby suffered a sudden and shocking stroke during the peak of his career which resulted in a rare neurological disorder called locked-in syndrome leaving him fully paralyzed. Nominated for four Oscars which included cinematography and editing, “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” takes a mesmerizing hold on viewers as we journey through the vast and beautiful imagination of a visionary man who didn’t cease to dream even with when immersed under the leaden weight of an unmovable body. Captivating to the very end, this is a film that should not go unseen.

In this hauntingly human masterpiece, Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman melds fragments of horror with deep metaphorical themes questioning the moral and social intentions of the human psyche. “Persona” stars Liv Ullmann, Bergman’s long-time muse, and Bibi Andersson. We follow the two characters to a seaside retreat, where they escape reality and wind up examining the curious distresses of each others’ minds. Shot in a minimalist style of black and white, each screen is thoughtfully framed and visually appealing. The film teeters between moments of slow, silent expressions and dizzying scenes of evocative and disturbing dramatics. Undoubtedly a classic piece of art and film.