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Director: Julian Schnabel
Screenwriter: Ronald Harwood
Starring: Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Marie-Josée Croze, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Max von Sydow
Synopsis
Based on the true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby (Amalric), the late editor of Elle Magazine who suffered a stroke, which lead him with an totally paralyzed body; except for his left eye.
Review
During the time when Jean-Dominique Bauby had locked-in syndrome, he decided to write a memoir of his entire life. With the help of an amanuensis repeatedly recited a frequency-ordered alphabet (E, L, A, O, I, N, S, D ...), it took two hundred and thousand blinks to complete his book. Ten days after it was published in March, 1997, Jean-Dominique Bauby died.
Originally a script in English, written by Ronald Harwood, the film's director Julian Schnabel convinced the studio, Pathé, to change the language to French to stay true to Bauby's life and story. A very good decision. Harwood's screenplay starts with the awakening of a paralyzed Bauby, in which he discovers his extreme condition. Collaborating with Schnabel, the first ten to fifteen minutes are visually haunting, in which the camera is representing Bauby's eyesight.
This is one of those films that have to work through its direction and screenwriting, because this is one man's life that is challenging to portray. After its haunting prologue that I've explained, the film does get slightly happier, in which we explore his past (where you'll notice a cameo by Michael Wincott) and best of all, his imagination. Through out the film, we get to see a much more pleasant side of Bauby in his mind, where he can snog with any woman and eat like a slob in a fine restaurant. When I say the film chronicles Bauby's life, I mean from life to death, because what expression will you make? You find out.
Winning the award for 'Best Director' at the Cannes Film Festival last year, this is truly Julian Schnabel's film. For his third feature, after Basquiat and Before Night Falls, Schnabel gets to work with Spielberg's cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, in which the both have a powerful collaboration. Through the left eye of Bauby, we see the stunning visuals that have this blurry quality to create the actual function of an eye, while the final touches of those silent sequences are in the hands of a cameraman.
When the director decided to adapt the late Bauby's novel, the role of the author himself was originally given to Johnny Depp, but due to his time as Captain Jack Sparrow, he wasn't able to do it. The replacement for Depp, was Mathieu Amalric, who really has the same type of physical acting that Depp has. He plays wonderfully the two sides of Jean-Dominique Bauby, and should be recognised now to western audiences.
The two lead actresses, Emmanuelle Seigner and Marie-Josée Croze spend most of their time interacting with the camera, and but for some reason, you get that feel that Amalric was there. This creates an odd, but powerful chemistry. Another strong performance to take note of, is Max von Sydow as Bauby's father Papinou. There is a powerful scene during the last act of the film, in which he talks to his paralyzed son through the phone, it is one of the most tear-jerking moments in cinema.
Verdict
Haunting visuals and dynamic performances make this a biopic a powerful tribute to the late author.
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