The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007 film)

I can accurately describe how it feels to watch “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” using the most painful terms—among discarded mental notes are “this feels like I’m being repeatedly kicked in the chest while someone is trying to drown me”—but I felt cleansed at its conclusion. It’s the sort of tale that would be easy to convey with heavy-handed schmaltz, but “The Diving Bell” opts for emotional honesty at every turn and succeeds thanks to a deft eye for cinematography and a strong performance from its lead actor. One of the best films of the 21st century.

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