My son Paul came down the stairs from playing video games with his buddy. He was coming for the power cord to his laptop computer. They were simultaneously streaming online the MN state high school hockey championship and his battery was almost dead. I was watching an exquisitely beautiful movie about a man with “locked-in” syndrome after becoming completely paralyzed (except the ability to blink one eye) from a severe brain stem stroke.
“Whatcha watching?”
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” I say.
“Oh no, not that movie!” Paul shakes his head. He knows his Dad well.
“Why not…it’s a great movie,” I say. Paul walks by, grabs the power cord, and starts back up the stairs.
“But it’s so sad,” Paul almost sings as he knows that his friend is listening.
“Often the best creativity comes from sadness and loss,” I say a little unevenly. Paul pauses on a middle stair, shoots me a glance, and furrows his brow. He feels the depth of the exchange but continues on. On the top step, he turns back.
“Are you already crying? Having been busted, I smile as does he. He shakes his head and he returns to the video game.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is an exquisitely beautiful and quiet movie that came out in 2007. Here is a link to a trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G69Zh7YIg8c
