Having empathy for people with disabilities is one thing, but truly understanding what they go through is quite another. "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" takes you beyond empathy, and as close to truly understanding physical disability as you may ever hope to come.

"Butterfly" is the true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, AKA "Jean-Do." Played by French actor Mathieu Amalric, Jean-Do was the editor of French fashion magazine Elle. His life had plenty of travel, expensive cars, and beautiful women, but Jean-Do wasn’t entirely sure he was happy. Perhaps his spirit was not intact because he had the wrong priorities in life.

At a young age, Jean-Do suffered a rare type of stroke that paralyzed his entire body with the exception of one eye. Because his mind was not affected by the stroke, he was trapped inside his body.

While in the hospital, Jean-Do is helped by a speech-therapist named Henrietta (played by Marie-Josee Croze). I found her character to be the heart of the film – a reflection of Jean-Do’s spirit. Henrietta is so passionate about helping Jean-Do, you believe she will keep pushing him until he can recite poetry with eloquence. She helps him realize that hope - even hope beyond hope - is sometimes more important than accomplishment. Though he fails to ever speak again, she teaches him to communicate by blinking his eye. With the help of a translator, he is eventually able to write a best-selling memoir. (The film is based on this memoir)

Croze’s portrayal of a speech-therapist is so convincing, it is like watching documentary footage of the real thing. Here is a rare exception when you might be happy that movies can have a strong influence on younger people. I like to think that audience members who are at the stage in life when choosing a career path might seriously consider a heroic profession such as the one portrayed by Croze.

It is easy to see why Mathieu Amalric is considered one of France’s great actors. With the help of the dialogue and story, his portrayal of a paralyzed character is arguably delivered with more personality than Jim Carrey in his wildest role.

I would hesitate to classify this film as entertainment. The film’s graphic, often uncomfortable realism is more frightening than any nightmare, yet this realism is necessary to demonstrate the infinite disadvantage that Jean-Do overcame: he wrote his memoir, repaired his relationships with this family, and put his broken spirit back together.

The film is about the transcendence of the spirit beyond the limitations of the body, and in a way, the film transcends entertainment. The film’s theme is not groundbreaking in its originality, but perhaps it never becomes clichй.

"Butterfly" breaks many of the sacred filmmaking rules with unusual camera moves and subject matter that wouldn’t readily appeal to a mass audience. But the film is not so abstract as to become distracting. It is a French film (in English subtitles) with an American director. Maybe this odd combination of elements is why the film is "artsy", yet presented in a way that anybody can understand.

This film may count your blessings for you. No matter what your circumstances, you may identify with Jean-Do’s passionate life as the editor of a successful fashion magazine; he did even after he was paralyzed. You may feel like you have the greatest job in the world, you live in the greatest town in the world, and you have the most interesting life in the world.

As a side note, this film was released in November of last year, but I thought it was a good review topic because (unfortunately) I don’t think many people have heard about it. It hasn’t made very much money, so it may not be in the theaters much longer. I recommend you hurry out and see it while you can - or at least rent it when it comes out on DVD.