- http://www.thedivingbellandthebutterfly-themovie.com/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Diving_Bell_and_the_Butterfly
- http://www.salon.com/2008/02/23/diving_bell_2/
*new* How did watching in subtitles help you relate to Jean-Do?
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Diving Bell & the Butterfly (by 30 March, 1 April)
*new* How did watching in subtitles help you relate to Jean-Do?
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The questions I have are; what actually caused his stroke?, Do they still use that style of communication for paralyzed patients?, and have there been any advancements since the movie, concerning locked-in syndrome?
ReplyDeleteI had a few favorite scenes, one was the scene when he was with his father and taking care of him. His father talked about how he was proud of him. Then he says something about how all a child want is a parents approval. I feel him remembering this, that this scene shows he got a conformation out of life from one of the the most important people in his life, showing a major time in his life. Then another great scene was when his children finally visited and he was so happy. He mentioned that he may not be able to move, but he lives through them. Again another parent and child scene. I feel both of these scenes show the importance of family.
The lesson I take from this film, is to learn to appreciate life. In the film he talks about all the things he still can enjoy and all the things that he never really appreciated. Also another lesson I feel it teaches, is to never assume that just because someone is different or does things in a different way, does not mean that they are not important. Also never give up on a working mind, even if a body cannot move there is still a mind willing to learn. Also family is important and will always be there in a time of need.
I was surprised by the way they communicated. I was also shocked how young and in good health he was to have such a problem occur. Also what shocked me was that even though the ex-wife knew he had a mistress, she was still by his side no matter what. I was also shocked by the advancements he made. The ending was also a shock, I thought he would get better. Another shock was that he wrote a whole book in that state. It was crazy that him and her worked together for hours everyday to write a book, even though he could not actually speak words, it was quite amazing.
It was very sad to see him not be able to communicate with his father, the man that so strongly believed in him. It made me sad knowing that his father is sick and weak, so he was not going to be able to see his father before he dies. It was sad that he could not truly say goodbye to the man that cared for him so much. Also it was sad to see how upset he was to not be able to take care of himself. Then it was very sad to see how upset he was that he would never be able to truly hold his children again.
This movie is very sad and makes you appreciate things a lot more. The movie shows you that life is full of amazing things and to never take them for-granted.
I agree with you. The fact that his ex-wife stuck around is completely surprising for me. It goes to show that she still loves him dearly, even if its only because of the children they had together.
DeleteI have all the same exact questions! I think in the beginning the doctor might have said that they do not know what caused the stroke, but he also could have been saying that they did not know what caused the Locked-in Syndrome. Either way, I'm curious to know what actually caused his stroke too! One of my favorite scenes in the movie was also when Jean-Do was taking care of his father. It was very touching to see the men bonding and sharing a moment.
DeleteI agree, his ex wife sticking around was definitely surprising. Also in the movie when he was talking to his father before the accident he said that she wasn't his wife just the mother of his children so that is even more crazy to me. But I was glad because he was still able to see his children for fathers day and visits.
DeleteMy favorite part was when the company to install the phone came in and said a joke and Mr. Bauby speech therapist didn't take it lightly but he was cracking up inside. My lessons that I took away from the movie is to make amends with anyone you might have issues with because you never know when your unable to talk with them. Something that surprised me is that the mother of his chrildren interpreted for his girlfriend who called on the phone. The scene that made me sad was when his dad called him on the phone and was unable to talk with him. His dad has been stuck in his apartment and try's to relate to him having locked in syndrome. I think not being able to express emotion is also sad.
ReplyDeleteNot being able to express your emotions or say exactly what you would want to say would be an incredibly debilitating and agitating part of the syndrome. It would be a constant struggle to express what you feel or what you have to say. I can't imagine.
DeleteI agree with you that we should make amends with everyone because life is too short to hold grudges and you never know what could happen. I think it would bother me so much if I had a problem with someone that could have been solved and they could no longer communicate with me, I would feel so much guilt. Also, based on that I think it would be so hard to not be able to express me your feelings. I could not imagine that. I think that was a really inspiring part of the movie is how he managed a way to figure out how to communicate.
DeleteI really enjoyed that scene with the phone installation guys!! It was a nice added touch of humor and lightheartedness in a otherwise depressing movie. There was also another somewhat funny part in the movie when Jean-Do and Ines are going to Lourdes to see the Madonna and Jean-Do is looking around at the crowd nervously. Jean-Do makes eye contact with a young woman being pushed in a wheelchair and she sticks her tongue out at him and it was so weird that it caught me off guard and I couldn't help but laugh.
DeleteI really enjoyed the phone installation scene as well! It was just sad that in a situation as simple as that he couldn't express his sense of humor. I completely agree that we need to make amends with people while we still can.
DeleteI really like how you brought up the two men installing the phones. Working in a hospital, I see many healthcare workers treating patients this way. I think that it was a very important scene to show how patients are sometimes treated and to show that that is not how we should be treating our peers. Especially ones in this condition. But I also think it was important how Jean-Do laughed it off. He saw it as humor and that is how you know that Jean-Do had a good spirit and a good attitude even though he was facing a horrible situation.
DeleteI have many questions after watching the movie. Is the way they communicated with him still used today with patients or has it changed and improved? Also, as Brianna has asked, what caused he stroke? There was no indication of what caused it to happen. One of my favorite scenes was the Father's Day scene. It think it showed a very important aspect of someone in his position. It shows that there is still a man inside of the body and still a father to those children. I also really like the scene where he was shaving his father's face in a flashback. I think it was very important because he got his father's approval and knew his father was proud of him. I really enjoyed the scene when he told the women helping him write the book that he was sorry he was including her in his diving bell and she said its okay because you are my butterfly. I thought this was really important because he feels like all his life is is the diving bell because he is stuck inside his own body and can't escape and having her sit there and write his book with him is like dragging her down too. But to her he is giving her her wings to start the career she wants and he becomes her butterfly. The one that spreads her wings for her future.
ReplyDeleteThere were many important lessons to take from this movie. One is to always live your life without regrets. When he first wakes up and is seeing everyone again he is stuck with the regrets he knows he cannot make up for. He knows that now there is nothing he can do to change what he has done. Which brings up another lesson of you life can change in the blink of an eye. I think it is important to remember this lesson because you never know what is going to happen next. He thought he was taking a drive in his new car with his son on his way to dinner and in the blink of an eye his whole life changed. So, the biggest lesson is to live your life like there is no tomorrow because there might not be tomorrow or you may never get the opportunities of today again.
What surprised me was that he was that the doctors were able to still communicate with him through the alphabet. I never knew that was a way of communicating and it was so effective that he was able to write a book using that method. I thought it was truly amazing that he was able to finished a book while having locked-in syndrome. Also, I was not expecting him to die. I thought that because he was beginning to grunt and make noises, that he was improving but sadly he turned for the worst.
What made me said is that he did not get to say goodbye to his friends and family. Also, he was not able to see his father because he is elderly and could not leave his apartment. From the flashbacks, you could see how important his father was to him and to not be able to see him or say goodbye to him must have been heartbreaking. What also made me sad was that the mother to his kids was there almost everyday with him and was always by his side and helping him through the say and he still chose the other woman over her. The part when the mother was translating for him to the woman he loved was really sad to me. He said "Every day I wait for you." This would have broke the heart of the mother to his children and I think that was very sad. I also think it was sad during the father's day scene because he said that now his children know what it is like to have a zombie as a father. You could see the love the children had for their father and especially the older boy. He was fully aware of what was happening so for him the situation was even worse because he is old enough to understand what is happeneing to his father.
I was very intrigued about locked-in syndrome, so I looked it up and found some interesting things: it is a medical condition, usually resulting from a stroke that damages part of the brainstem, in which the body and most of the facial muscles are paralyzed but consciousness remains and the ability to perform certain eye movements is preserved.Locked-in syndrome (LIS) is a condition in which a patient is aware but cannot move or communicate verbally due to complete paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles in the body except for the eyes. They can sometimes retain proprioception and sensation throughout their bodies. Some patients may have the ability to move certain facial muscles, and most often some or all of the extra ocular muscles. Individuals with the syndrome lack coordination between breathing and voice. This restricts them from producing voluntary sounds, though the vocal cords are not paralyzed. Neither a standard treatment nor a cure is available. Stimulation of muscle reflexes with electrodes (NMES) has been known to help patients regain some muscle function. Other courses of treatment are often symptomatic. Assistive computer interface technologies, such as Dasher, or OptiKey, combined with eye tracking, may be used to help patients communicate.It is extremely rare for any significant motor function to return. The majority of locked-in syndrome patients do not regain motor control, but devices are available to help patients communicate. However, some people with the condition continue to live much longer.
ReplyDeleteMy questions: Is there current research or methods to help re-innervate parts of the brainstem affected and recover the dead nervous tissue? What is the average lifespan after one has been diagnosed with LIS? In what other ways, ways other than stroke or blood not getting to the brain, can cause LIS? Is there medication/treatment available to reverse its effects?
My favorite scene is on Father's Day when he sees his kids. It was also an emotional scene for me. Even though he is locked into his own body he still is a great father for the kids. I just can't imagine the agony of wanting to hug your children and wrapping your arms around them, but not being physically able too. It would be so heartbreaking.
One lesson I took away is to treat everyday as your last and live life to the fullest while taking time to tell your loved ones that you love them. You really never know, it could all end tomorrow. That's the mystery of death itself. Another lesson I learned is to make the best of any situation. He could of packed it all in, became a hermit and shut his family away. Instead, he did more, explored and loved. He made the best of his situation even though he was trapped inside his own body.
Something surprising to me was how the communication worked after he suffered his injury. He was even able to communicate and help his wife write his book - pretty amazing! It goes to show that there are always options and ways to communicate, you just have to find an effective and efficient way at doing it.
The whole concept and plot of the story makes me sad. Suffering a stroke out of nowhere and getting diagnosed with LIS is terribly saddening. That wasn't even the saddest part for me. Realizing you can no longer provide, let alone hug your children was the saddest part for me. Constantly want to hug your children would be on my mind.
I also was very interested in the communication techniques that they used to talk with Jean-Do. I would have never thought that someone with locked-in syndrome could communicate effectively or in this case, good enough to write a book. It gives hope to those who suffer injuries such as Jean-Do.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy questions from the movie are:
DeleteHow did he become paralyzed? What gave him the motivation to still write a book?
My favorite scene was when he was able to go spend fathers day on the beach with his family. This scene was the first time he was truly happy I think being paralyzed. He was still a great father to his kids despite his condition. You can learn a lot from this movie. The most valuable lesson I got out of the movie is to never give up in life and to make the most of every situation you are placed in. I also think it serves as a reminder that everyone deserves a second chance.
What surprised me the most was that people gave him the time to write his book and also him even being able to write a book when he was paralyzed. It was truly amazing that he was still able to find ways to communicate. I was sad when his father called him and he felt helpless because his son was in a situation that he couldn't do anything about and also because he couldn't physically help his son because he couldn't leave his apartment.
These are great questions Brandi and I was curious about them too! I cant imagine being in his state and feeling any kind of motivation to write a book. Seeing him spend fathers day on the beach with his family was very heartwarming. I couldn't agree more about this movie encouraging audiences to never give up and always offer second chances!
DeleteI thought that it was cool how the beginning opened up like we were him and that the cameras were made so that we saw everything he was seeing.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was sad when he was speaking but no one could hear him speaking. I also thought that it was very sad when his father called him but he was not able to talk to him. It was very sad that he could not say goodbye to his father before his father died. It would be very scary waking up in a hospital not knowing what happened. I think that it would be very hard to be in a state where only your eyes could work.
Questions? I have a few questions about the movie. Are there more ways now that people with locked in syndrome can communicate? Why did he have a stroke in the first place? How many people who have strokes end up having locked in syndrome? Is there any way now for patients with locked in syndrome to recover?
There were many things that surprised me about this movie. I am amazed how well he was able to communicate when he was trapped in his own body. I can’t believe that he was even able to write a book with help. I think that shows how much dedication he had and how strong of a person he was not to give up. I was very surprised by the ending. I never thought that he would die I thought for sure that he would get better and live a happy rest of his life. I can’t believe that his ex-wife was around and stood by him and helped him. I feel like most people would never do that. I am also surprised about how hard the therapists worked with him to get him to where he could communicate using the alphabet.
My favorite scene was definitely the Fathers Day scene. I thought that this scene in particular was very touching. These scene showed that even if someone has a disability they can still be a great person. He was a great father even though he was paralyzed.
There were many lesions that I took away from this movie. The movie really made me want to live every day to the fullest. The thing it made me want to do the most was to tell the people I love how I feel before it’s too late. I can’t tell what’s going to happen in the future and what day will be my last. I want my family and friends to know how much I love them. The movie taught to live your life full of happiness and without regrets. The movie shows that we should be living every day like it’s the last day and make every day count.
I also thought it was cool how the beginning opened up with being shown his point of view. I am also curious if there are more ways for people with locked in syndrome now to communicate then before. I also liked the fathers day scene. I am glad he was still a great father when so many people could have just given up and never tried. I also agree this movie definitely made me want to live everyday to the fullest.
DeleteThe whole movie was extremely moving and sad, made me think about how you never know when your last day will be or how much time you have to tell the ones you love what they mean to you. It actually made me think a lot about my uncle. My moms brother was hit by a car on his thirteenth birthday, he lived to be thirty and was in a wheel chair much like the man in the movie but he was able to move his arms. He couldn’t communicate by speaking although he tried, his speech was never quite there but he was aware of what was going on. When we were kids at my grandmothers we would be running through the house and he would stick out his arm and close line us, I guess that was his way of communicating that we were getting on his nerves. The scenes I enjoyed most were the memory of visiting his father and how much he took comfort in his father’s approval. As well as the scene of his children visiting on Father’s day, regardless of what state he was in he was still a father to them and that in itself was so touching. So many things made me sad about his condition, even just simple things, like the scene where he was trying desperately to watch the end of game on television and a nurse turned it off before he could. Something so simple became agonizing because he couldn’t communicate to tell her, “hey, I’m watching that!” One of my favorite quotes from the movie was this, “Today my life feels like a string of near misses, women I was unable to love, opportunities I failed to seize, moments of happiness I let slip away. Had I been blind and deaf, or did the harsh light of disaster make me find my true nature?” This really hit home for me, we let the little things of our daily lives go unnoticed because typically no event such as his, makes us realize how extraordinary the little details of our lives really are. As humans we take so much for granted and after watching this film it has made me really think about how we should all really start appreciating life in general, my self included. Made me realized that we are really not promised tomorrow and we should take time out of our days to appreciate those around us and tell people what they truly mean to us. Some questions I have are what actually caused his stroke? And is this form of communication still used in stroke patients today or are there improved methods?
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you that after watching this film it made me realize that we take so much for granted. I do think that we don't really appreciate those around us and show them how much they mean to us on a daily basis.
DeleteI agree with this as well, we take way to much for granted. We need to appreciate what we have and who we have and show that to the people on a daily basis. You never know what Is going to happen as this movie shows, you don't want them to not know how you feel.
DeleteWe really do take too much for granted and this movie definitely makes you think about that. Also like you said we are not promised tomorrow- so we really should make the best of everyday.
DeleteI thought it was cool to see his thought process when he first found out he had a stroke and to see the world from his eyes. I also liked his sarcastic remarks back to the doctors. My questions I have about the movie are, what caused the stroke? Is the way they communicated with him still used today for patients with locked in syndrome? In the scene on fathers day how did they get him up on that balcony thing in the ocean, or was that just him imagining it? How rare is locked in syndrome, what are the chances a person who has a stroke will get locked in syndrome? What advancements have been made since the movie, if any? I could not imagine having Locked in syndrome I could only imagine how afraid he must have felt at first and how alone he must feel at times, like when he says he dreads Sundays because there is no one around and no one to change the television, it would be horrible. I also wonder what gave him the motivation to still write a book. I had two favorite scenes, the first was when he was shaving his dad, I liked to see how the relationship was between them and the funny comments that were made, it was also emotional as well when his father was saying he missed his mother and he was proud of him, and when he states his fathers approval comforts him now more then ever, and that we are all kids in need of approval I agree with this. My other favorite part was when he was able to spend fathers day with his children, I liked that even though he had this locked in syndrome he was still able to spend fathers day with his children, be a good dad even if it is not as they ever planned it, I also like how he communicated with the mother of his children. The main lesson I take away from this film is to live everyday like it is your last and to never let anything go unsaid because one day you might not be able to say it anymore. I think to often we don't tell our loved ones how we feel when we really should because who knows if we will ever get the chance to see them again or speak to them again. This film taught me to never take anything for granted. I was surprised that people were so patient with him in saying the alphabet and waiting for him to blink to allow him to write his book. It is nice to see that there are kind, patient, people out there who would do that for someone. The entire movie really made me sad, it would just be so scary to suffer a stroke like that and find out you have locked in syndrome and no one can hear you. It is an overall sad situation, and its sad that he can no longer move on top of it all. The end also made me sad when they showed that he had the stroke in the car with his son there with him, that would have been scary for the son and him, it was just a sad situation. The movie put me in a pretty sad mood but I am happy he found a effective way to communicate and write a book, that also surprised and impressed me.
ReplyDeleteI agree, having locked in syndrome would definitely be hard I could not imagine it- I would be terrified. I really think it is amazing that he was able to write a book about his experience, that's pretty amazing!
DeleteI thought it was surprising as well that the people were all so patient with Jean-Do throughout the whole movie. I feel like some people would get so tired and frustrated after having to repeat the alphabet so many times trying to just get a single word or sentence. But the movie showed that there are some compassionate out there that are willing to really try and help people.
Delete*compassionate people
DeleteI thought it was cool how the opening part of the movie was from his point of view. Some questions I have about the film are what caused the stroke, what the ex wife was thinking throughout the movie, like why she stayed with him for so long considering they weren't even married, also what gave him the motivation to write a book after all of this happened to him, and my last question is, what is the life span of someone with Locked-in syndrome? My favorite scene in the movie is when his kids finally come and see him, and how he gets so happy to see them. This scene is really moving to me because I have experienced something similar. This movie makes me realize that life can be super short, and I can not take that for granted. It makes me think about the little things in life that I take for granted everyday, like the sunset and sunrise, getting to eat whenever I am hungry and being able to drink clean water. It also makes me think about being prepared for stuff like that, I would not want to put any more added stress on my family in a situation life that. I think it is valuable to be prepared for the sake of the family. I do not like how he wasn't able to talk to his dad. My dad is the most important person in my life and if I wasn't able to talk to him in a situation like that I do not know what I would do. The happy part was how he was able to express himself by writing a book, it helps to be able to put your words down on paper sometimes, and for his case I think he really enjoyed writing.
ReplyDeleteLogan, it is great that you are inspired to appreciate the small wonders of your life after viewing the movie. I think we all could benefit from being more aware of how blessed we are to have clean water, food we prefer, and simply the ability to see the sun rise and set one more day. I. too, want to make sure my family does not have to face any additional stress of making decisions if I am in a state of partial-brain function.
DeleteThis movie was extremely sad, but I was actually surprised at how much I ended up liking it. Like a few others have said, I thought it was really neat how they started out with us kind of seeing through his eyes, that kind of got me interested right off the bat. It did leave me thinking about a lot and with a lot of questions. Is the type of communication they used with him still used with patients today or have there been advancements? Much like several others have wondered, what exactly caused his stroke? I really don’t get why that ended up happening. While I was watching this I looked up information on LIS and found it to actually be pretty interesting. Also, what causes a stroke to end up leading to LIS, what are the chances of getting it, and have there been any advancements with treatments? My favorite scene would probably have to be the father’s day scene. This scene was definitely a touching one to watch. Even though he was paralyzed and really couldn’t do anything, he still managed to be a really great and loving father. I was shocked by the fact that this happened to him in the first place- he just seemed way to young and healthy for that to end up happening. I was surprised but glad that his wife stuck by his side through all of it though and the fact that he ended up writing a book. A lot of things made me sad, but particularly the whole situation with him and his dad. Seeing how affected he was by everything and his lack of being able to care for himself was also very sad. I did take a lot away from this movie- but mostly to appreciate life. You never know what could end up happening to you on any given day. Therefore we should always do our best to make each day count and not waste time. This movie also showed the importance of family and of never giving up. I’m glad we had to watch it, it was definitely worth it!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this movie. Right off the bat, I liked how it was filmed as if we were Jean-Do, sharing somewhat of the same frustrations of not being able to communicate or see if someone was not in direct eye sight. With that being said, I hated watching the scene where his right eye was being sewn shut. I could not imagine having to live through one eye and then using that eye to constantly blink as a way to speak, let alone write a book.
ReplyDeleteMy first favorite scene of the movie, is a flashback of Jean-Do shaving his father's face. As he is getting ready to leave his father, Jean-Do makes the comment to the effect of "we all need approval of our parents. I needed it when I was younger, and I need it even more now". I particularly liked this quote because I know I want to live a life that makes my parents proud of me. I want my parents to look at all the good that I have done and approve of it and take pride in the fact that they helped greatly in making me the person I am today. This is also the scene where Jean-Do and his father discuss the book "The Count of Monte Cristo" and how Jean-Do is re-reading it for he wants to make a female version of the book. My second favorite scene in this movie was when his wife, Celine, surprised him with a boat ride and surprised him with a volume set of "The Count of Monte Cristo". This scene struck me because after all that this couple has been through, she still was able to know what he loved and to give him such a meaningful gift. I believe Jean-Do's imagination tell Celine "my diving bell drags you down to the bottom of the ocean". But real life Celine responds "Jean-Do, I don’t mind you dragging me to the bottom of the ocean, because you are my butterfly". This only solidifies her love for Jean-Do despite all he has put her through.
The scene that saddened me the most was when Jean-Do's father called for the first time and his father, through tears, told Jean-Do he missed him. And Jean-Do, through a translator, told his father to don't cry, which only provoked more tears. Scenes in movies where father figures cry always get me.
I really liked how the film also kept cutting to the diving suit, in which Jean-Do was trapped and sinking/drowning. This symbolized him being trapped and helpless. And during a scene before his health declines, when he is free from the diving suit and walks up to the hospital bed where all the doctors who have helped him are standing, and the bed is empty, except for a pool of blood. We come to find that this was preluding to his death... which was very surprising, as I thought and hoped he would continue his great recovery.
One final comment, it was VERY awkward when Celine and Ines are on the phone together and Celine has to interpret Jean-Do telling Ines that he waits for her everyday.
I thought the scene where he was shaving his father was poignant. I wondered for both of them if they felt they had been an ideal parent or an ideal child. Was Jean Do's father conscious of the emotional distance between them? Was Jean Do satisfied that the choices he had made in his life would make his father proud if he could see them all laid out before him like a movie? In the moments of the shaving, though, there was just an aging man who wanted a shave and the younger version of him there to help. There was no ego or taut history, only an act of love.
DeleteA few questions that I have are what exactly caused Jean-Do's stroke? What were his children's initial reaction's when they found out that their father had the stroke? Are there any other ways that people with locked in syndrome can communicate besides blinking when read the alphabet? What inspired Jean-Do to continue on with his contract and write a book?
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite scenes was when his children got to finally spend time with Jean-Do on the beach.
A lesson that i learned from this film is to really appreciate what you have in life because you never know when it will be gone. Also to not give up on yourself and to keep striving forward.
What surprised me was the scene when Jean-Do had to get his right eye sewed. It was just disturbing to watch and not expected. It also really surprised me when the mother of his children had to translate and listen in on the conversation Jean-Do was having with his girlfriend.
I thought that it was sad that he couldn't do anything for himself at all due to his condition. I also thought that the scene when his father called to talk to him was very sad as well. I couldn't imagine what it must have been like for his father not being able to hear his son's voice again and being able to have a conversation with him. It even showed a flashback of Jean-Do and his father from earlier so you can tell from there that they mean alot to each other. Just all around sad scene.
Julie, I really like your question about what inspired Jean-Do to continue with the contract to write the book. That is a lot of time, energy, and effort to invest in, especially in his condition
DeleteI agree with you that people have to appreciate life because you're right, you have no idea when something will happen or a right will be taken from you.
I also was disturbed from the sewing of the eye. That was too realistic for my taste. Haha
What questions do you have?
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the movie, I do have some questions. I really like how the movie was based off of Jean-Do's perception. But it prompts me to ask the question why the director put the movie in this point of view? I also have the question of why the director put some of the scenes in the order that he did? He waited until about 3/4 through the movie to show the audience how the stoke happened in the first place.
What was your favorite scene?
My favorite scene in the movie was when he decided not to feel sorry for himself and still attempt to make something of himself, such as continuing with the contract and write the book he intended to.
What "lessons" do you take away from the film? \
One of the biggest "lessons" that I took from this movie is that you cannot take things for granted. You never know what is going to happen and when. He was only 42 years old and was just driving down the road when he had the stroke.
Another "lesson" that I took from the movie is that even when things come crashing down, one must be optimistic and see what good can come out of it. Jean-Do was barely living, his only form of communication was to blink, yet he still wrote an entire book using blinking and a translator.
What surprised you?
What surprised me most was that people did not give up on him, or stop caring/loving him. This may sound harsh, but it really amazed me how his family stuck by his side and took the time every week to see him. Near the end of the movie when Ines called to tell him that she missed him. And also how the therapists never gave up on him as well.
What made you sad?
I am not a very emotional person so the only thing that I really found "sad" was when Jean-Do's son wiped away Jean-Do's saliva coming out of him mouth. His son was only 12 years old and was so mature about the whole thing.
I liked your question and statement that you mentioned about the order of the scenes. I feel like it would make a lot more sense to have the scene when he had his stroke at the beginning of the movie then go on to the scene where he wakes up and you see it from his perspective of him finding out that he had a stroke etc.
DeleteThe Diving Bell & the Butterfly, like so many artfully executed films, left the viewer with perhaps more questions than it answered. As an aspiring nurse, I am curious to know more detail about his medical care. What exactly is required to maintain a level of relative well-being for someone with locked-in syndrome? How did they monitor him for potential aspiration or other complications during those months? This issue did not really occur to me until he began making gurgling sounds which culminated in a pneumonia diagnosis. That scene was the most surprising moment to me, as I realized that he could have died during such an episode with no one there to help him. With the technology of today, I expect cardiac and brain monitoring would alert staff if he was in distress. However, hospitals are often understaffed with overworked employees so monitors are not constantly supervised.
ReplyDeleteIt made me very sad when Jean-Do “spoke” of how he could no longer touch the downy hair of his children as he watched them playing on the beach. I actually had to stop the film there before he went on to say he was happy they were well. I did not finish it until this morning. The scene reminded me that he was effectively dead (depending on your definition of death), even though he seemed so alive in some moments. I began to wonder if unarguably deceased parents “live” on in some way similar to Jean Do and wish they could touch their children, too.
The movie reiterated a lesson I have thought a lot about lately. We (humans) do not know when our final breath will occur. Similarly, we may find ourselves in a situation such as Jean Do’s at any moment. Being of a certain age or state of health should not offer any reassurance that it will be later rather than sooner. Extend this idea to all those around you, for this may be their final moment, too. Always express your feelings to people you care for and pause before speaking any negative words. Practice peace and acceptance. If this day were the very last day you had to interact with someone who is significant in your life, what would you do or say? All the trivial matters of living tend to fall away when we hold that thought in our minds. The movie also made me think about my living will, and what sort of provisions I want to include for the possibility of a condition such as locked-in syndrome. I have reached no conclusion on the matter.
My favorite scene is actually when the credits begin to roll and a Tom Waits song “Green Grass” begins to play. I was mesmerized by the iceberg spontaneously reconstructing from chunks that had fallen into the ocean. The song was beautifully paired with the imagery of the iceberg, the lyrics suggested our loved ones become part of nature around us. “Stand in the shade of me; Things are now made of me…” Is the typically mournful Waits suggesting we limit our sorrow because our loved ones are never truly gone?
Subtitles were an important component of the film. They allowed us to get some sense of what it was like to be locked inside Jean Do’s mind. His moments of self pity and distress, as well as his joy and flights of imagination were made more visceral for the viewer by the use of subtitles.
What caused the stroke?
ReplyDeleteMy favorite scene is also the Father's Day one when he gets to see his kids. Even though he is facing the locked-in syndrome he still is able to be a good father. I agree with Jake in the wanting to hug your children but not being physically able too. It would almost be unbearable I feel like. I couldn't imagine wanting but not being physically able to do ordinary things. That was definitely a great scene but it also was very emotional. It was hard to watch a man go through that with his own family.
I also want to know what causes a stroke, specifically his. I cant even begin to imagine what it is life being stuck in your body, around your family, and not being able to communicate with them or interact in any way. I agree this movie was very emotional
DeleteI don't really understand how the whole situation occurred. So my questions would be what was the cause of the stroke? And what relationship did he have with his children's mother? My favorite scene was the one with his kids on fathers day at the beach, they were so excited to just be around him that there was a sense of relaxation in his appearance. A "lesson" that I learned from this movie is that I do not want to have any regrets on the life that I live because not being able to express my feelings would too hard for me. What surprised me was the way that his ex-wife treated him and the way that she treated his girlfriend(?) when they had not been together in some time. The sad part to me was that he was not able to express his feelings to his kids and that his son in particular witnessed everything happen and wasn't able to help him the way he so desperately wanted to.
ReplyDeleteSome questions I have about locked in syndrome are: what is the likely hood of coming out of it? I know they can not be high but when I was researching it a little I found more stories than I thought of people who had it and then came out of it. Also, what are the main causes of a stroke? A story I saw was done by CNNs Anderson Cooper and he spoke with a man who was locked in for 12 years following having a soar throat. So I guess my main question is how do people get or come down with this syndrome and can you be born with it?
ReplyDeleteMy favorite scene would have to be the same one as Aprill, where he stops feeling sorry for himself and decides to write the book he wanted to write.
I would say the main lesson I took away from this film is the cliche to never give up. Even in the face of having nothing being essentially dead according to some, he didn't give up and wrote the book. Also, this film shows that your life and the quality of your life can change in the blink of an eye. We need to cherish the time we have and not take anything for granted.
It surprised me that his ew stuck around to help him, even though he did not speak very highly of her. Also it surprised me the will of the person, how him, his doctors, and his ex were persistent him being able to regain forms of communication. I thought the whole story line was sad. How his life completely changed in one second.
Obviously, the subtitles helped me understand the dialogue of the movie. While it was clear to known what was going one based on the cinematography, by adding the dialogue I understood the story way more.