The Big Blue
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1988's The Big Blue (French: Le Grand Bleu) was the first film made in English by French director Luc Besson. Besson shot an identical French language version of the script concurrently (a task made easier by the script's comparatively sparse dialogue). Starring Jean-Marc Barr, Rosanna Arquette, and Besson favourite Jean Reno, the film is a fictionalised account of the sporting rivalry between two famed free divers.
It charts the competition and friendship of real-life champions Jacques Mayol (played by former model Barr) and Enzo Maiorca (renamed in the film as "Enzo Molinari", and played by Reno). The action is divided into two timelines - the nascent rivalry between the two divers as children, and (as adults) their final competition at the world free-diving championships at the Sicilian town of Taormina.
With its extensive underwater scenes and languid score, the film has been both praised as beautiful and serene, and in equal measure criticised as being dull and uneventful. While popular in Europe, the film was a commercial failure in North America. The director later released a longer Director's Cut on DVD, featuring an different ending and a new score.
As with many of Luc Besson's films, the soundtrack was written by Eric Serra.
Trivia
The Omega Professional 600 wristwatch, used in this film, has become one of Omega's most sought after products. Besides being featured in the film, it has since become impossible to replicate due to a lost tool.
See also
External link
- IMDb page on Le Grand Bleu (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095250/)