Film / The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a reminder of why the medium of film is so special. It features first rate visuals, performances, direction and acting, all of which fits together into one of the most insightful, powerful and touching pieces of cinema ever. It begins from the point of view of a character that has become paralysed, apart from one eye and a fully functioning brain. Flashbacks are used sparingly and make such an impact due to their brevity. Mathieu Amalric gives a phenomenal performance as both the fully functioning editor of Elle Magazine and a drooling invalid with one over-active eye. A visceral emotional strength is packed into nearly every scene as his disability disarms friends and family and their respect and love for him shine through. Based on a true story, this is a rare piece of cinema that is as uplifting as it is extraordinarily depressing. A new entry into my top five films of all time.
Also by XAVIER TOBY
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YOU'RE SAYING (3)
John Lampard said | 21 March, 2008
Truly amazing movie and story, I was riveted the whole way through it.
natasha said | 23 March, 2008
a truly unique portrayal of his life after a tragic circumstance. a moving and beautifully crafted movie. worth every minute.
HAVE YOUR SAY
‘Some people call me the space cowboy, some call me the gangster of love, some people call me Maurice, cause I speak with the pompetus of love’. The pompetus of love?! Really. I don’t know what the heck Steve Miller was on the day he wrote that, but I could sure do with some now. Read more
Australian singer-songwriter Ben Lee recently contributed some posts to Lost At E Minor on some of his favourite cultural things and people. We checked in with him to see what sort of head-space he’s been in the time since the release of his latest album, Ripe. Read more
Given the amount of talent he has, it’s a mystery why German producer Pantha Du Prince not received more attention than he has. His minimal tech soundscapes are surprisingly melodic and moody, as reflected on his epic track, Asha, as good a starting point to the music of this German electro whiz as any.
You don’t have to venture far in Bangladesh to encounter a rickshaw, the nation’s most popular means of transport. Read more
Andrew Fagan, lead singer of The Mockers, the poppiest New Zealand band of the 80s, came around to my place once when I was an impressionable 10-year old with stars in my eyes and a head full of shiny, shiny melodies. Read more
Ninety percent of the time, you can pick a Scandinavian brand from a metric mile away, which is not necessarily a bad thing considering that the Scands have such a refined, clean approach to thinking about clothes. Read more
There are few more joys an artist has in life than coming across great resources for inspiration. Lately I’ve been studying typography, the meaning of words, and then something as simple as trying to find all the ‘7 letter words’ I can so that it might fit into my latest musings. Read more
WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST
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Draped in a charming rustic veneer, the Meow Cottage at the Old Marshall House in Franklin, Tennessee, is a self-contained cottage situated on the grounds of a sprawling — and quite beautiful — B&B. Read more
We are constantly surrounded by photography, but do we ever really stop to look? To be honest, I never paid much attention in the past. But I’ve now turned over a new leaf, and my ignorance has turned to obsession. Read more
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LA-based renaissance man David Choe draws from toy culture and comics as much as he does from Japanese painting and conceptual high art. Read more
Subscribe to Lost At E Minor now and you could be rocking these insanely stylish MOSCOT Nebb sunglasses, as worn by those modfathers of musical sleek, Young Knives. Hell, Cee-Lo even wore them on Saturday Night Live a few weeks back. Read more
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francis said | 21 March, 2008
the book also needs to be read - he ‘wrote’ the whole thing using the blink of his eye, with someone interpreting. you have to keep reminding youself of this because the text is so smooth. i love the way that now he is paralysed he is ‘able’ to do more than he ever was: with only his imagination active he can pitch himself anywhere in the world, eat the greatest food, etc etc