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Cinematic Life Lessons

By caroline | April 29, 2008

A French film, The Diving Bell and The Butterfly (2007), captivated recent audiences at the Irish Film Institute and was retained for a second run.

It’s a biopic about 43-year-old Jean-Dominique Baudy, one-time editor of French Elle, who suffers a massive stroke in his sports car on a country road.

He’s left with what’s called locked-in syndrome, a very rare condition where he’s completely physically paralysed but has perfect mental capabilities.

His only way of communicating is by blinking his left eyelid, with a therapist pointing to a card for him to spell out words, one blink at a time.

Throughout the film, his speech and physical therapists work to help him become as functional as possible to support his dream to write his book.

In a huge effort, he dictates the book to a woman from Elle magazine, and the book is published 10 days before Baudy’s death from pneumonia.

Deafness does not feature in the film, but its key messages are important:

1. To see the ability of the person – not the disability - as Baudy’s carers did. They saw his remaining potential and worked to maximise this.
2. To sit within a person’s field of vision. Baudy’s vision was limited, so his carers told visitors to place their faces where he could see them.
3. To use creative problem-solving. Baudy’s carers improved his quality of life with practical help that set an example for others.
4. To use technology when possible. A speaker-phone was ordered for Baudy’s room, but the two servicemen questioned his ability to use it.
5. Realising that progress may take time. Baudy and his transcriber had to put in unbelievable effort to write his book but achieved the mission.
6. Where possible, to help a disadvantaged person reach their life goal/s as this underpins self-esteem and overall sense of purpose.
7. Not to worry about what other people think of teaching methods or occupational therapy: each personal milestone is a great achievement!

Topics: General, Hearing Matters, Irish Deaf Kids | 1 Comment »

One Response to “Cinematic Life Lessons”

1. Jennifer Says:
   April 30th, 2008 at 10:02 am

   I fully agree! This film was brilliant, as was the book. I think I was sold when he described his speech therapist as his “guardian angel.” I highly recommend this book.

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