No writer or director would ever dream of putting on paper or on screen a story as astonishing as Jean-Dominique Bauby’s. Editor-in-chief for Elle magazine, the bon viveur and notorious playboy Bauby suffers a massive stroke that leaves his entire body paralyzed ? with one notable exception. Only able to move his left eye, Bauby manages not only to communicate with the world outside his body, but also to dictate his memoirs of the same title. Approaching his difficult subject matter with tenderness and good humor, artist and director Julian Schnabel handles the precarious balance between Bauby’s harsh post-stroke reality and his wistful memories of a life long gone with a mastery that earned him the Award for Best Director at Cannes. An inspiring tale of human courage reminiscent of Amenábar’s box office hit The Sea Inside.

Director: Julian Schnabel
Screenwriter: Ronald Harwood
Cinematography: Janusz Kaminski
Editing: Juliette Welfling
Music: Paul Cantenon
Cast: Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Anne Consigny

France / USA, Color
French / English, 112΄
Format: 35mm