The Diving Bell and The Butterfly
Narrative:
1.) How does the narrative of the film and its structure reflect the key themed and messages of the story?
The narrative of the film reflects the emptiness of Jean Do's life. His mind is trapped inside his body which is un moveable. The repetitive nature of the film shows the monotonous life that he lives. This contrasts with his imagination. The scenes in the film which are active and uplifting are the events that he is imagining. When the scenes flashback to his typically daily life we see the bleak and empty side. The Diving Bell represents Jean Do's body how it is heavy and can't be moved. Whereas the butterfly represents the freedom of his mind.
Mis-en-scene:
How does the Mis-en-scene create meaning throughout the film?
1.) What devices are used to communicate frustration and paralysis?
The repetition of the diving suit shows the frustration of Jean Do as he is trapped and unable to communicate. This is the same as a diver in a suit and they can scream and talk yet no one can hear them through the suit. His body is a dead weight and cannot be moved which is represented by the metal diving bell. This contrasts with the repeated image of Butterfly's as they are free to go and move wherever they want. The scene when Jean Do is in the middle of the ocean on a platform also shows his frustration and paralysis. He is static on a wooden platform whilst the sea crashes around him. Shows he is immobile and trapped whilst everyone around him are free. Another scene in which shows his frustration and paralysis is when he is vertically stood up in a machine and a fly lands on his nose. he can see and hear the fly but can't move it. The voiceover in this scene is effective as he talks about his frustration of not even being able to move a fly.
2.) Compare the mis-en-scene in the fathers day scene to when his children visit him.
The shaving scene is juxtaposed with the fathers day scene to heighten and exaggerate the vulnerability of Jean do and his father. In the shaving scene the camera is static and the only movement comes from Jean-do as his father is ill and stays in the same position until helped to stand by Jean Do. When Jean do's father looks into the mirror we see a picture of Jean do in his youth. This echo's the fact in the next scene Jean do is going to be immobile and vulnerable. It shows he is going to become dependent like his father sooner than he thinks. In the fathers day scene pov shots have been used to show how immobile Jean Do is. The camera is static however it is filmed on a windy day so the dresses and hair of the girls flow and move in the wind which shows there freedom compared to him. In the scene everything moves apart from him which contrasts to the shaving scene. This shows how the circumstances have changed as the scene switches from him living faced paced and being the only thing moving compared to the beach scene when everything moves apart from him. We also see Jean Do on a wooden raised platform in the middle of the ocean. The waves crash around him which represents everyones movement and life continuing whilst his is paused and can't move. The two scenes being placed next to each other exaggerates the fact that Jean Do has gone from living life normally to be confined in a hospital with no movement.
3.) What are the significance of the icebergs images throughout?
Throughout the film the image of melting icebergs is repeated. Icebergs can be seen as strong and powerful but only when they are in the right environment. This can represent Jean Do's life as he was in control and powerful compared to him becoming paralysed and immobile. This is like when the iceberg melts. At the end of the film when Jean do dies we see the image of icebergs reforming. This shows he has become free as he is no longer paralysed after he has passed away.
4.) How does Mathieu Amalric bring emotion to the role of Jean Do despite spending most of his time in the film in a static position?
In the film Mathieu Amalric brings emotion to the character of Jean Do even though most of the time in the film he is in a static position.
1.) How does the narrative of the film and its structure reflect the key themed and messages of the story?
The narrative of the film reflects the emptiness of Jean Do's life. His mind is trapped inside his body which is un moveable. The repetitive nature of the film shows the monotonous life that he lives. This contrasts with his imagination. The scenes in the film which are active and uplifting are the events that he is imagining. When the scenes flashback to his typically daily life we see the bleak and empty side. The Diving Bell represents Jean Do's body how it is heavy and can't be moved. Whereas the butterfly represents the freedom of his mind.
Mis-en-scene:
How does the Mis-en-scene create meaning throughout the film?
1.) What devices are used to communicate frustration and paralysis?
The repetition of the diving suit shows the frustration of Jean Do as he is trapped and unable to communicate. This is the same as a diver in a suit and they can scream and talk yet no one can hear them through the suit. His body is a dead weight and cannot be moved which is represented by the metal diving bell. This contrasts with the repeated image of Butterfly's as they are free to go and move wherever they want. The scene when Jean Do is in the middle of the ocean on a platform also shows his frustration and paralysis. He is static on a wooden platform whilst the sea crashes around him. Shows he is immobile and trapped whilst everyone around him are free. Another scene in which shows his frustration and paralysis is when he is vertically stood up in a machine and a fly lands on his nose. he can see and hear the fly but can't move it. The voiceover in this scene is effective as he talks about his frustration of not even being able to move a fly.
2.) Compare the mis-en-scene in the fathers day scene to when his children visit him.
The shaving scene is juxtaposed with the fathers day scene to heighten and exaggerate the vulnerability of Jean do and his father. In the shaving scene the camera is static and the only movement comes from Jean-do as his father is ill and stays in the same position until helped to stand by Jean Do. When Jean do's father looks into the mirror we see a picture of Jean do in his youth. This echo's the fact in the next scene Jean do is going to be immobile and vulnerable. It shows he is going to become dependent like his father sooner than he thinks. In the fathers day scene pov shots have been used to show how immobile Jean Do is. The camera is static however it is filmed on a windy day so the dresses and hair of the girls flow and move in the wind which shows there freedom compared to him. In the scene everything moves apart from him which contrasts to the shaving scene. This shows how the circumstances have changed as the scene switches from him living faced paced and being the only thing moving compared to the beach scene when everything moves apart from him. We also see Jean Do on a wooden raised platform in the middle of the ocean. The waves crash around him which represents everyones movement and life continuing whilst his is paused and can't move. The two scenes being placed next to each other exaggerates the fact that Jean Do has gone from living life normally to be confined in a hospital with no movement.
3.) What are the significance of the icebergs images throughout?
Throughout the film the image of melting icebergs is repeated. Icebergs can be seen as strong and powerful but only when they are in the right environment. This can represent Jean Do's life as he was in control and powerful compared to him becoming paralysed and immobile. This is like when the iceberg melts. At the end of the film when Jean do dies we see the image of icebergs reforming. This shows he has become free as he is no longer paralysed after he has passed away.
4.) How does Mathieu Amalric bring emotion to the role of Jean Do despite spending most of his time in the film in a static position?
In the film Mathieu Amalric brings emotion to the character of Jean Do even though most of the time in the film he is in a static position.
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