OVERALL
LOOK- The Diving Bell and The Butterfly Defiantly has a
unique look that is its own. To the director and cameramen this opportunity was
a blank canvas where their imagination was put to the test. Due to the main
character being immobilized many camera techniques had to be used. Many of the angles used in this film were low
angle shots because Jean was usually in a bed or chair. Along with the angles, camera
movement and framing worked hand in. These three components helped the viewer
feel as they were watching the film through Jeans eyes or first person view. The
lighting and lenses in this film also helped the overall look and vibe for the
better. Bright lighting and depth and fill from the lenses were used in order
to give a dreamy like feel and look. This fit perfect for this film because of
all the dreaming and inner thought that Jean had.
IMAGES-
The
images in this film that convey information that is not reflected in the Jeans action
are in the start of the film. For example when the doctor reveals to Jean that
he has a disease called locked in syndrome. During this scene Jean has no dialogue
or movement so it sets out the theme style and narrative. At this point the
viewer gets an idea of how the film is going to work. From here on the viewer
gets in the seat of Jean mind and body. When the doctor explains the disease it’s
like he is explaining to you. The narrative kicks in here when the viewer hears
Jean speaking in his head.
SHOT
LENGTHS: The length of the shots in the film is relatively
long because of locked in syndrome. I feel that the shots are long for the
purpose of feeling. To Jean every second, minute and moment must have been an eternity
being in a bed all day long must have made time stretch out for Jean. So that’s
why the shots are long so that the viewer can get the feeling that Jean had of “forever”.
SHOT
TYPES: Extreme close up shots and extreme long shots are
used through the film to divide reality and thoughts. That is one of the reasons
for those shots in order to separate Jeans real life moments from his inner
thought fantasies. They also work to portray a big dramatic scene for example
extreme close up shots. They are in your face and help the viewer connect and
embrace the feeling of the scene on a deeper level.
CAMERA
ANGLES: This film has a lot of low angle shots to show the
point of view of Jean. Jean is always seated or in a bed so naturally it fits
right that low angle shots were used. These shots convey that the character feels
low or sad due to the circumstances he is facing. One thing that I notice was
the way the angle would shift from eye point view to low angle shot. It seems
like they did this in order to remind the viewer of Jean and how they were
memories in his head.
COMPOSITION:
The
rule of thirds is not really used in this film. An example of a time they use
thirds is when Jean is talking on the phone with his father. On the left side
is Jean in the middle the phone and on the right Claude. All the other shots
are in different styles where the main character on the right and emptiness and
the other side. I feel that reason for these style shots is to show the openness
or world outside Jean body.
CAMERA
MOVEMENT: The movement of the camera in this film is highly
important. Many times the camera movement is slow and panning as if to emulate the
movement of the eyes without the ability to move your head. Other times the movement
is fast and unpredictable because of the scene. For example when Jean is in the
pool while being held by another person. The camera moves quick and to many
sides kind of like when a person lays belly up in water. The floating causes
you to see things unstable just like the shots while Jean swims.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
STYLE: The
cinematographic style is without doubt intentional especially in a film like this
one. It is necessary to make the style so noticeable in order to get the full
affect of Jean. If the Diving Bell and The butterfly were shot in standard or
regular angles the films would lose its touch. The viewer would not be able to
connect to the fullest is it were not for the low angle shots. It would also be
a little less exciting to just see angles of Jean sitting and not from his
eyes.
