Fridae

What would you say if we told you this was one of the most beautiful films we've ever seen? Lyrical, sensual and utterly unforgettable, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is the sort of the film that may change the way you perceive your life.

Based on the bestselling memoir of Jean-Dominique Bauby, the former editor of Elle magazine, it chronicles the period when he suffered a massive stroke that left him completely paralyzed. He could no longer move his body. All he could do was blink his left eye. Yet with that one eye, Jean-Dominique was able to signal "yes" or "no" and spell words one letter at a time.

With his barebones ability to communicate, Jean-Dominique would go on to write a book (with the help of a transcriber) that reflects on his life and experience. The book was published in 1997, winning rave reviews and selling millions. But just two days after its publication, the author died.

Directed by artist Julian Schnabel, who won Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly offers an authentic viewing experience unlike any other. For one, we are forced to see through the eyes of a paralyzed man. His blurry, distorted perception becomes our own and we understand how dark, frustrating and claustrophobic his world was.

The fact that he could make miraculous art out of his intensely painful experience makes The Diving Bell and the Butterfly one of the most bracing, astonishing and uplifting films in cinema's history.