CINEMATOGRAPHY: DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY

OVERALL LOOK

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is the true story Jean- Dominique Bauby the editor for Elle, who in his forties suffers a stroke in front of his son. In the hospitable he is diagnosed with a rare disease called locked-in syndrome, which paralyzes his entire body, only allowing him to communicate with one working eyelid. Jean-Dominique's illness has him immobilized in bed. The cinematography has  some shots taking in his point of view, where many of the camera shots are taking in low angle and even Dutch angle shots, showing Jeans confusion. There is a lot of close-ups in the film because the characters were adjusting themselves to be visible in the eye of Jean, since he is unable to move and readjust himself.  As part of the audience, one begins to feel sorry for the character and hope's Jean is able recieve a miracle or a cure for his illness. However, his tragedy displays how inspiring and strong Jeans character was.

IMAGES

This image is crucial point in the film because at this point of the movie we know that we are seeing the movie through the eyes of Jean- Dominique. When this scene is shot, one tends to turn a way because you can almost feel the pain and vulnerablity that Jean can be feeling. From this point on Jean and the audience really know how serious locked-in syndrome is, since Jean with all his might was trying to tell the doctors to STOP however there is no way he possibly could. 

 

 SHOT LENGTHS

Shot lengths in the film are quite long. For instance, in the shot where the speech therapist was explain the alphabet and how that particular alphabet was not the normal one but they were the letters that the average person uses. The speech therapist goes over the alphabet letter by letter waiting for Jean to respond through his eyelid. This shot shows how Jean is quite frustrated and how easily he just wants to give up. 

 SHOT TYPES

This shot type is a Close-Up shot; the camera pays very close attention to the subject. The close-up shot provides the viewer the exclusive view of the characters emotions and state of mind. The film is shot in the point of view of Jean; through out the movie the characters quite frequently adjust themselves in the vision of Jean. Jean is unable to move so whatever is in front him is what he is only able to see. This shot type allows the audience to be in the position of Jean. 

CAMARA ANGLES 

This angle conveys that something strange is going on by tilting the camera and slanting the camera level from its normal, horizontal and vertical position, this angle is made to give the viewer the impression that in the world of film, the world is off balance. The angle enhances the shot to convey weirdness when Jean starts to awaken from his coma. Jean is unaware of what has happened, not even knowing he is paralyzed. 

The Dutch Angle

This is a low-angle shot that allows the audience to see Jean remembering how great it was to drive again and be out an about again without the dependents of others.

Low-Angle

 COMPOSITION
    The composition of a shot within the scene are balanced conforming to the rule of thirds. The composition of scene in Diving Bell and the Butterfly are balanced through out the scene showing a variety of emotions that Jean Dominique displays. From remembering his past and his struggles in thriving to perceiver so he can finish his book.

 CAMARA MOVEMENT
      In the beginning of the film the camera movement is a little off.  Not only is Jean unaware of what is going on in his world but the audience is also unaware of what is going on in the film. As Jean begins to awaken the camera movement, focuses and gets clearer and clearer. As Jeans progress in the hospitable gets better so does the quality of the camera movement.  Many of the scenes are shot in the point of view of Jean, while he is in bed. Since he is immobilized so is the camera, the camera is in a tilt or pan motion sitting on a stationary access moving horizontally or vertically. Portraying the eye motions of Jean, since that is the only thing he can move.

 CINEMATOGRAPHY STYLE
Cinematography is the process of capturing moving images on film. When cinematography calls attention to itself can be a mistake or misjudgment on the filmmaker, maybe when the filmmaker is barely getting a sense of camera's actions and capabilities.  However the art of cinematography can call attention to itself purposely, notifying the audience of the specific angles or close-up that make us understand with different types of emotions on how the characters are feeling. In The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, cinematography allows the film to give the audience a taste of how it would be like in the shoes of Jean Dominique. With the point-of-view shots and low angle we can begin to imagine a life in bed.