I didn’t know much about The Diving Bell and the Butterfly before I saw it other than a few mentions during the Oscars a couple years back. It’s a French drama with English subtitles, definitely a “me” movie.

It turned out to be a very moving film about a 40-ish man who has a stroke and becomes completely paralyzed except for his left eye and his mind. A therapist works out a system by which he can communicate with her by blinking. Eventually, through countless hours of tedious toil, he “dictates” a book about his experience and what he has learned. Great acting and direction bring to life the man’s gauntlet of emotions during his journey: confusion to bitterness to acceptance and determination. In some ways it reminded me of a book I read years ago called Johnny Got His Gun, a war movie about a veteran who is reduced to a limbless, bitter man with none of the 5 senses except touch. He communicates with his caregivers through Morse code.

Although not the right movie if you need a good laugh, this film really renewed my appreciation for the gift of life and all the little elements of life that most of us take for granted: the ability to walk, to talk, to hug and kiss a loved one, to enjoy a good meal. It’s easy to get so worked up with our own problems that we forget how good we have it. For example, I sometimes get discouraged that my knee won’t let me run as much as I would like. But I guarantee there are many people who would be thrilled just to be able to walk.