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The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Poignant drama telling the true story of a man left paralysed in the prime of his life who showed incredible reserves of spiritual strength to author his memoirs just by blinking.

Poignant drama telling the real-life story of a man left paralysed in the prime of his life who went on to show incredible reserves of spiritual strength to author his memoirs. The editor of France's Elle magazine, Jean-Dominique Bauby was struck down in his 40s by a stroke that left him unable to move a muscle, yet did not affect his mental reflexes. He went on to write his autobiography just by blinking patterns - the only physical activity he could still perform - which followed an alphabetical code.

1 hour, 52 minutes

Last on

Sat 2 Nov 201300:40

Music Played

  • Paul Cantelon

    Theme from the Diving Bell and the Butterfly

  • Charles Trenet

    La Mer

  • Arthur Freed

    Je Chante Sous La Pluie

    Lyricist: Nacio Herb Brown.
  • The Dirtbombs

    Chains of Love

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Concerto for Piano in F Minor BWV 1056 - Largo

  • Nino Rota

    Napoli Milionaria

  • Tom Waits

    All the World is Green

  • Vline Buggy

    Pauvre petit fille riche

    Lyricist: Hubert Giraud.
  • Bob Harris

    Lolita Love Theme

  • U2

    Ultra Violet

  • Pierre Emery

    Don't Kiss Me Goodbye

  • The Velvet Underground

    Pale Blue Eyes

  • Patty Hill

    Happy Birthday to You

    Lyricist: Mildred J. Hill.
  • Jean Constantin

    Quatre Cents Coups

  • Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros

    Ramshackle Day Parade

  • Tom Waits

    Green Grass

Credits

RoleContributor
Jean-DoMathieu Amalric
CélineEmmanuelle Seigner
Henriette RoiMarie-Josee Croze
ClaudeAnne Consigny
Dr LepagePatrick Chesnais
RoussinNiels Arestrup
Marie LopezOlatz Lopez Garmendia
Father Lucien / The SellerJean-Pierre Cassel
JoséphineMarina Hands
PapinouMax von Sydow
Dr CochetonGerard Watkins
Empress EugénieEmma de Caunes
WriterRonald Harwood
AuthorJean-Dominique Bauby
ProducerKathleen Kennedy
ProducerJon Kilik
DirectorJulian Schnabel

Broadcasts