The Diving Bell and the Butterfly12A

Directed by Julian Schnabel | France | 2007 | 1h 52m | French w/ English subtitles | Starring Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Marie-Josée Croze

The true story of Elle France editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, who, in 1995 at the age of 43, suffered a stroke that paralyzed his entire body, except his left eye. Using that eye to blink out his memoir, Bauby eloquently described the aspects of his interior world, from the psychological torment of being trapped inside his body to his imagined stories from lands he’d only visited in his mind.

Followed by a post-screening discussion with University of Oxford neuroscientists organised by The Oxford Science and Ideas Festival 2021. 

Reviews

‘Nothing in director Julian Schnabel’s career so far has anticipated the sweetness, sadness, maturity and restraint of this lovely movie.’
★★★★★ Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

‘A poignant reflection on what it means to be alive and, visually, a true cinematic experience.’
★★★★ Alan Morrison, Empire Magazine

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed The Diving Bell and the Butterfly between October 23, 2021 and October 24, 2021.

Join our mailing list and we'll make sure you always know what's on and when.

What else is on?

Today (Thursday 28th September)

16:00

And Then Come the Nightjars 15
1h 21m
Adapted from Bea Roberts’ award-winning stage play, this moving drama tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a Devon farmer and the vet assigned to cull his herd.

Book here

20:30

Past Lives 12A
1h 46m | Korean w/ English subtitles
Celine Song's critically-acclaimed and deeply romantic feature debut about two childhood friends from South Korea who reunite for one week in New York after two decades spent apart.

Book here


Tomorrow (Friday 29th September)

15:45

Past Lives 12A
1h 46m | Korean w/ English subtitles
Celine Song's critically-acclaimed and deeply romantic feature debut about two childhood friends from South Korea who reunite for one week in New York after two decades spent apart.

Book here

18:15

Once Upon a Time in Uganda 15
1h 34m
Playful documentary looking at the world of “Wakaliwood”, Uganda's own DIY action movie industry, and the creative endeavours of bricklayer-turned-filmmaker, Isaac Nabwana.

Book here

20:30

Love Life 12A
2h 3m | Japanese & Korean w/ English subtitles
An intricately plotted domestic drama following a Japanese couple whose marriage is thrown into question following a sequence of fateful events. Directed by the award-winning filmmaker Kôji Fukada.

Book here


Plan your visit

Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road. We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We don’t show adverts, just a couple of trailers, so don't be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!