Lots of enthusiasm on webs for the french language film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" which screeened yesterday in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. The film, an adaptation of the best-selling memoir by Jean-Dominique Bauby, who was editor in chief of Elle magazine in France before suffering a stroke at 42. After the stroke Mr. Bauby had to endure full consciousness and complete immobility, apart from the ability to open and close one eye.
Manohla Dargis of The New York Times describes the film as "exuberant as well as poignant, and remarkably unsentimental given the subject" and declares it to be "moving and gorgeously shot." Anne Thompson of Variety writes that the film is "achingly sad and beautiful," and notes "there wasn't a dry eye in the house." Glenn Kenny of Premiere says the film is a "pretty solid contender for this year's Palme d'Or."
North American rights to the film were sold to Miramax yesterday for $3 million. A Best Foreign Film Oscar campaign is sure to follow. Here's the 1997 New York Times review of the book.
