Le grand bleu (1988)

Director:

Luc Besson

Writers:

Luc Besson (story)
Luc Besson (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

22 September 1988 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Between what you know and what you wish, lies the secret of... [The Big Blue]

Plot:

Enzo and Jacques have known each other for a long time. Their friendship started in their childhood days in the Mediterranean...

Plot Keywords:

Italy | Dolphin | Diver | Diving | Rivalry

Awards:

3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Rosanna Arquette	...	Johana Baker
Jean-Marc Barr	...	Jacques Mayol
Jean Reno	...	Enzo Molinari
Paul Shenar	...	Dr. Laurence
Sergio Castellitto	...	Novelli
Jean Bouise	...	Uncle Louis
Marc Duret	...	Roberto
Griffin Dunne	...	Duffy
Andréas Voutsinas	...	Priest (as Andreas Voutsinas)
Valentina Vargas	...	Bonita
Kimberly Beck	...	Sally (as Kimberley Beck)
Patrick Fontana	...	Alfredo
Alessandra Vazzoler	...	La Mamma (Enzo's Mother)
Geoffrey Carey	...	Supervisor (as Geoffroy Carey)
Bruce Guerre-Berthelot	...	Young Jacques

Also Known As:

The Big Blue (Philippines: English title) (UK) (USA)
Le grand bleu, version intégrale (France) (director's cut)
Le grand bleu, version longue (France) (director's cut)

Runtime:

168 min (director's cut) | France:132 min (original cut) | USA:118 min (edited version)

Country:

France | USA | Italy

Language:

French | English | Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) (edited US version) | Canada:G (Quebec) (edited US version) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) (edited US version) | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:PG | Denmark:11 (director's cut) | Finland:S | France:U | Norway:10 (1989) | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (original rating) | USA:PG (original release) (edited for re-rating) | USA:R (director's cut) | West Germany:12 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Agia Anna, Amorgos, Small Cyclades, Greece

Company:

Gaumont

Trivia:

The stranded ship where Enzo rescues the diver is named "Olympia" and is still there in Amorgos, Greece.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Enzo would have very marked lines on his face from "mask squeeze" from going to those depths at the end, when Jacque is holding him.

Quotes:

Johanna: 6'3", 6'1", maybe 5'9" - You can't be sure, you know the flippers, they add height or they take it away, or something. Anyway short dark hair... Not punk or anything, just short. And the cutest smile. He wasn't smiling at me, I don't think - just smiling. And he thought he saw me in the lake. I mean that was a figure of speech... They're so romantic, the French.
Sally: [bored] I thought you said he was Peruvian?
Johanna: Haven't you been listening?
Sally: ...Since eight o'clock last night...! You're in love.
Johanna: Don't be a jerk. There's no such thing as love at first sight.

Movie Connections:

Featured in CinéMagique (2002)

Soundtrack:

MY LADY BLUE

Cult Movies 47

47. THE BIG BLUE (adv.-romance, 1988) Mayol (Jean-Marc Barr) is determined to dethrone current world-free diving champion Enzo (Jean Reno). Childhood friends, they share a fierce rivalry that, nonetheless, has kept their friendship alive. Both of them share an almost spiritual affinity with the sea, especially Mayol who lost his father. His love for his sport, however, is put on hold when he meets Joanna (Rosanna Arquette). But as Mayol and Enzo's competition become more fierce, Joanna slowly feels herself drifting away from Mayol, as his fascination with the sea takes on an obsessive turn.

Critique: Marvelouslly filmed underwater adventure from master-Frenchman Luc Besson, who has specialized on action films. This is his most personal work to date, thus taking on a uniquely surreal quality. The exquisite camera-work is very special, at times almost documentary in quality.

This mix of 'art' cinematography and romance made it a big money earner all over Europe but, not surprisingly, only gained critical acclaim elsewhere. Adding to its failure is a somewhat downbeat ending that, I think, complements the film's mythic storyline.

Besson's 'epic masterpiece' has yet to reach many viewers who would embrace his visionary talents.