Mr Bauby wakes up from a coma as a result of a massive stroke. His brain is functioning perfectly, but he is totally paralysed and unable to talk. The hospital is determined to rehabilitate him and they set about establishing a means by which he can communicate. A very cumbersome and time consuming (but effective) eye blinking alphabet is set up, and by this means he dictates a book that is published shortly before his death.
The film is almost entirely shot through the eye of Jean-Dominique, (his right eye is sewn up to prevent infection) we rarely get to see the effects of the cerebrovascular accident, but he (and we) can see the shock on the faces of his family and friends when they see him for the first time. He gets about in a wheelchair, but never recovers more than minimal movement.
What a remarkable, and strangely uplifting film - and yet again why is it that European cinema comes upon with more interesting (but inevitably less commercial) films? Rating 8/10
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