Yesterday I talked about a few of the Best Supporting Actor nominees that I thought needed a bit more attention, today I’m going to look at a film that is hidden away in four categories, but also deserves more attention - Julian Schnabel’s The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Nominated for “Best Adapted Screenplay”, “Best Cinematography”, “Best Editing” and “Best Director” for Julian Schnabel, the film is clearly of great technical merit, but more than that, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is one of the most inspiring films I have seen in sometime.

An experiment in form and point of view, Schnabel tells the true story of Jean-Dominque Bauby, the editor of French Elle who had a paralyzing stroke at the age of 47, resulting in “locked in syndrome.” Bauby was only able to communicate by blinking his eye but managed to write a book about his life and experience as a prisoner of his own body.

Schnabel used a swivel and tilt lens to tell much of the story through our main character’s perspective. In this way, everyone is Jean-Do’s world stares right into the camera and we experience what is happening just as Jean-Do did, with characters out of our line of sight more often than not. About halfway through, we also begin to see things from an objective POV, just as Jean-Do begins to find his own way to live.

The film is an exhilarating roller coaster, running the emotional gamut with some scenes sparking both tears and laughter. Schnabel, a painter who occasionally makes films, creates a beautiful portrait of life out of a tale of mortality and death, somehow connecting the two opposing forces in a way that illustrates what it means to be human. And while it might not focus on any specific issue or action, it highlights the basic idea that life is precious and it is that idea that often motivates social action.

Beyond story, what makes the film amazing and an experience not to be missed is Schnabel’s uncompromising approach to filmmaking. As someone who doesn’t rely on filmmaking as a profession, he has a freedom and reckless spirit that allows for experimentation and for non-traditional moments. He can create based purely on artistic merit, he doesn’t need to worry about whether or not he’ll be able to make his next picture,. In a world of compromised visions, this is a rare thing and more than that, seems the most appropriate way for the story of Jean-Do to be told.

Watch the trailer below, be sure to see the film if you haven’t already and to learn more about Bauby’s inspirational journey by reading his book!