The Diving Bell and the Butterfly describes the life of Jean - Dominique Bauby after he suffers a stroke that leaves him in a coma for twenty days. His stroke led him into a condition called "locked in syndrome". Bauby is "...completely paralyzed from head to toe..." and must learn to communicate by the blinking of his eye. Bauby will have a nurse in his room, periodically, who will act as a translator. She will ask him a yes or no question, and Bauby must either blink once for "yes" or twice for "no". She will also recite the french alphabet and Bauby must blink for a certain letter.

Personally, I did not like this film. I thought it was very hard and uncomfortable to watch. It was difficult having to see what Bauby's life was like afterwards. In the beginning of the film, Bauby is in a hospital room with a nurse. They are working on his communication skills. She is reciting him the french alphabet and he is blinking for each letter that he wants. He spells out "I want death." This was a very hard and difficult movie for me to watch.