The only thing more impressive than the acting is the direction.
The only thing more astonishing than the direction is the story.
The only thing more miraculous than the story is the fact that it got told.
And there is something slightly more than miraculous about the simple, profound reality that there are people (always, there are these people) who donate their time and their energies toward helping the helpless (but not hopeless) human beings live their lives with some semblance of dignity, and purpose. And with that love, and patience and–no other word will do–faith, they might make something impossible happen.
That a man like Jean-Dominique Bauby was able to translate his tale without speaking or writing is a testament to his humanity; that he had dedicated nurses (and speech therapist and stenographer) is a tribute to the selflessness that makes a mockery of vanity and solipsism. Bauby’s accomplishment ended up as something more substantial than art: his efforts and the assistance of his caregivers are life-affirming in ways that words are unable to articulate. The blessing was reciprocal, and it’s humbling to behold.
At times like this, besides being grateful and inspired, I can only turn to music to express what only music is capable of expressing. Gratitude to Bauby, Mathieu Amalric, Julian Schnabel and, of course, Mingus.
