Grand bleu, Le (1988)

Director:

Luc Besson

Writers:

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

Release Date:

11 May 1988 (France)

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:

Orthodox | Eating | Greece | Greek Orthodox | Spaghetti

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)
Grand bleu, version intégrale, Le (France) (director's cut)
Grand bleu, version longue, Le (France) (director's cut)

Runtime:

USA:118 min (edited version) | 168 min (extended version) | France:132 min (original cut)

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:

Portugal:M/12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) (edited US version) | Canada:G (Quebec) (edited US version) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) (edited US version) | 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:

Luc Besson was very uncertain about which actor to cast in the main role. He proposed the role to Christopher Lambert (with whom he worked in his previous movie), had a meeting with Mickey Rourke (a big star back then) and even was suggested that he himself should take the role, since he had such affinity with the character. It was not only until weeks before filming that someone suggested the name of Jean-Marc Barr.

Goofs:

Continuity: Jacques takes off his sneakers, then jumps into the pool with his sneakers on (although in the director's Cut we see him replace his shoes).

Quotes:

[haggling with a fish vendor]
Uncle Louis: Two DOLLARS? You didn't even need to catch the fish! It died of CANCER!

Movie Connections:

Featured in CinéMagique (2002)

Soundtrack:

MY LADY BLUE

a synonym for the ocean

THE movie that made Besson go down in history. A key-movie that divided the French public between the ones who saw on it, only a tedious documentary about the ocean and the others who acclaimed this passionating movie. As far as I'm concerned, I rank in the second category. "Le grand bleu", it's simply a periphrase with a tinge of euphemism to design the ocean, a universe that always inspired to men fear but also fascination. The two main characters, Jacques Maillol and Enzo Molinari are fascinated by the sea but for different reasons. If Reno devotes all his energies to diving so as to access to success and glory, the sea is more than this for Jacques. He was born with it, he swears by it (so much that he neglects Johanna's love) and the sea will lead him to death. A place of athletic competition, an ideal place for rest and entertaining where dolphins are his real and sole friends, finally the eternal heaven, the ocean epitomizes all this to Jacques. "le grand bleu" also ranks among the movies that you must watch rather than telling it. Of course, there isn't almost any plot, dialogs are short and rare but pictures are gorgeous enough to create an entrancing climate supported by Eric Serra's mesmerizing music. The movie's technical qualities can only arouse admiration: a shiny photography that perfectly reflects the color of the sea, the blue and a fluid making sometimes clever: Jacques' childhood is made in black and white. Besides, the movie enabled to discover two outstanding actors: Jean-Marc Barr and Jean Reno but oddly if Reno became one of the most popular French actors, it wasn't the case with Barr. In spite of a promising debut, he has never be able to make a movie that could have got back him in the saddle. Maybe was he so elated at the bottom of the sea, in heaven where everything is fine...