Overall Look - The cinematographic aspects of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly doesn't just add up to an overall look but it also gives it an overall feeling of connection with the main character, Jean-Dominique Bauby. In general, the qualities of the film stock, lighting, lenses, framing, angles, camera movement, and use of long takes expresses this film in a very close and personal point of view. The film uses oblique angles, extreme close ups, eye level shots, and camera movements that were similar to his eye movements. All of these cinematographic aspects gives us a new understanding of the saying, “To understand a man, you've got to walk a mile in his shoes..” because to understand Jean-Dominique Bauby, you've got to experience his life through his one eye.
Images - There were plenty of moments in the film in which the images conveyed important information in developing the film’s themes narrative, and meaning. One moment showed a clip of a mountain of ice falling apart to represent the similar feeling of the main character. Another image shows him in a wheelchair surrounded by a large body of water to show loneliness and isolation. Lastly, we see a back and forth imagery of the diving bell and the rebirth of the butterfly.
Shot Lengths - The length of shots consist of long and short takes. The recognizable pattern is shown by using long takes to indicate a mood of importance and patience as he communicates giving it a more meaningful expression. The short takes expresses his true personality which includes his sense of humor, his short attention span sometimes, and his change in emotions.
Shot Types - One of the main shot type in this film are the extreme close-ups, especially from Bauby’s perspective and point of view. It gives us insight in what he is able to see from all the important people in his life. We get to closely see there expressions, mixed emotions, and real feelings.
Camera Angles - The camera angles represent point of view shots by high and low angles from different characters. The low angle shots represent Jean-Do in a helpless position usually having to look up from his bed or wheelchair. The low angle shots from his point of view conveys the position of his children’s mother, doctors, therapists, and others in a higher place. It represents power and that he needs and relies on these people. The high angle shots are shown in his memories and imagination to portray the past and the “what-was-and-what-could-have been” feelings.
Composition - The composition of shots are usually not balanced in a way that conforms to the rule of thirds and are arranged within the frame less “painterly,” especially when it is narrated from the first person point of view. The composition contributes a sense of unbalance, confusion, and helplessness to the overall scene. In the other hand, composition is well balanced in the third person point of view in his memories with his father and children, indicating a better, happier time in his life.
Camera Movement: The camera movement in the film plays in important role in the films narrative. The camera movement in Jean-Do’s perspective was the same as his left eye, which was the only part he had control of. The movement and blinking of the camera let us be Jean-Dominique Bauby. We got a first person experience with the difficulties of communicating and getting a taste of his challenging life.
Cinematography Style: It was the filmmaker’s intent for the cinematography to call attention to itself. The purpose in making the cinematography so noticeable was to build an incredibly close connection with you and the story. It let you in the mind and body of Jean-Dominique Bauby. I made the memories, imagination, emotions, and feelings extremely real and personal. Overall, it left us with a greater appreciation for life.
