Diva (1981)

Director:

Jean-Jacques Beineix

Writers:

Daniel Odier (novel)
Jean-Jacques Beineix (adaptation) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 April 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

A Comedy. A Thriller. A Romance.

Plot:

Two tapes, two Parisian mob killers, one corrupt policeman, an opera fan, a teenage thief, and the coolest philosopher ever filmed. All these characters twist their way through an intricate and stylish French language thriller.

Plot Keywords:

Opera | Police | New Wave | Motorcycle | Diva

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 9 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Wilhelmenia Fernandez	...	Cynthia Hawkins (as Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez)
Frédéric Andréi	...	Jules
Richard Bohringer	...	Gorodish
Thuy An Luu	...	Alba
Jacques Fabbri	...	Jean Saporta
Chantal Deruaz	...	Nadia
Anny Romand	...	Paula
Roland Bertin	...	Weinstadt
Gérard Darmon	...	L' Antillais
Dominique Pinon	...	Le curé
Jean-Jacques Moreau	...	Krantz
Patrick Floersheim	...	Zatopek
Raymond Aquilon
Eugène Berthier
Gérard Chaillou
Andrée Champeaux
Nathalie Dalyan		(as Nathalie Dalian)
Laurence Darpy
Michel Debrane
Etienne Draber
Laure Duthilleul
Nane Germon
Gabriel Gobin
Jim Adhi Limas
Louise Malapert
Dimo Mally
Vaneta Mally
Alain Marcel
Isabelle Mergault
Marthe Moudiki-Moreau
Jean-Luc Porraz
Bernard Robin
Yann Roussel
Brigitte Lahaie	...	La fille sans culotte (as Brigitte Simonin)
Jean-Louis Vitrac
Tania Zabaloieff
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dominique Besnehard	...	(uncredited)
Vladimir Cosma	...	Chef d'orchestre (uncredited)

Directed by
Jean-Jacques Beineix

Writing credits
Daniel Odier		(novel) (as Delacorta)
Jean-Jacques Beineix		(adaptation) &
Jean Van Hamme		(adaptation)
Jean-Jacques Beineix		(dialogue)

Produced by
Claudie Ossard	....	executive producer
Irène Silberman	....	producer: Greenwich Film Production
Serge Silberman	....	producer: Les Films Galaxie

Original Music by
Vladimir Cosma

Cinematography by
Philippe Rousselot

Film Editing by
Monique Prim
Marie-Josèphe Yoyotte

Casting by
Dominique Besnehard

Production Design by
Hilton McConnico		(as Hilton Mc Connico)

Set Decoration by
Gérard Marcireau

Costume Design by
Hilton McConnico		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Judith Gayo	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Richard Dupuy	....	assistant unit manager
Catherine Mazières	....	unit manager
Ulrich Picard	....	production manager (as Ully Pickard)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jean-Jacques Albert	....	second assistant director
Patrick Halpine	....	second assistant director
Gérard Pujolar	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Carlos Conti	....	assistant art director
Gérard Marcireau	....	set dresser
Jacques Preisach	....	property master
René Ferracci	....	poster designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Louis Gimel	....	sound assistant
Jean-Pierre Lelong	....	foley artist
Gina Pignier	....	sound editor
Jean-Pierre Ruh	....	sound
Claude Villand	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Paul Trielli	....	special effects

Stunts
Michel Norman	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Jean-Pierre Baronsky	....	chief electrician
Dominique Brenguier	....	camera operator
André Canda	....	key grip
Angelo Chinosi	....	grip
Arnaud Duboisberanger	....	assistant camera (as Arnaud Du Boisberanger)
Dominique Le Strat	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Claire Fraisse	....	chief costumer

Editorial Department
Michel Crivellaro	....	assistant editor
Michèle Darmon	....	assistant editor (as Michele Darmon)
François Gédigier	....	assistant editor
Josef Lieck	....	on-line editor
Christine Pansu	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Vladimir Cosma	....	conductor
William Flageollet	....	music mixer
Catherine Leygonie	....	music editor (as Catherine Leygonnie)
Jacqueline Porel	....	music editor

Other crew
Jacqueline Benloulou	....	production administrator
Maurice Cadaze	....	production administrator
Marie-Jo Duchemin	....	production secretary
Sylvie Koechlin	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Les Films Galaxie
• Greenwich Film Productions (as Greenwich Film Production)
• Antenne-2 (participation)

Distributors

• Nea Kinimatografiki (1982) (Greece) (theatrical)
• United Artists Classics (1982) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Palace Video (1982) (UK) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1983) (UK) (VHS)
• StudioCanal (1998) (France) (DVD) (special edition)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Arthaus Filmverleih (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Rialto Pictures (2007) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (North America)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• KinoVista (2009) (Russia) (all media)
• Nea Kinisi Video (1987) (Greece) (VHS)
• Sagres Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Les Films Michel François  titles
• Milan Records  soundtrack album
• Théâtre Musical de Paris Châtelet  theater (as Théâtre du Châtelet)
• Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, Paris  theater: opening scene

Also Known As:

Runtime:

France:117 min | USA:123 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 (1995) | Norway:16

Filming Locations:

Bassin de la Villette, Paris 19, Paris, France

Company:

Les Films Galaxie

Trivia:

Gorodish's first name is Serge.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Nadia is just exiting the metro station and runs into Jules, he is wearing his postman's cap. Later, in the police station when Paula is recounting Nadia's death, the same scene is replayed, except this time Jules is not wearing his cap.

Quotes:

Jules:Where are we?
Alba:In a castle.
Jules:What castle?
Alba:Where the witch makes poisoned red apples to advertise the toothpaste movie stars use.

Movie Connections:

References Citizen Kane (1941)

Soundtrack:

Ave Maria

Viva Diva

Jean-Jacques Beineix's first film is a quirky colorful pop mixture of action, romance ,music and fairy tale that is based on a pop novel by Delacorta. The story concerns a young French postal delivery boy named Jules, who is also an opera lover & a big fan of the beautiful,& eccentric African American diva Cynthia Hawkins who is performing in Paris when the movie opens. Ms. Hawkins played by opera singer Wilhelmenia Fernandez refuses to sing for recordings, and this quirk of hers is what sets the action of the movie moving. Jules decides to tape Hawkins in performance, after which he goes backstage to meet the diva, and promptly steals the gown she wore at the concert, which he sometimes uses as a scarf when its not hanging in a shrine he has made to her in his large loft filled with disgarded cars. The plot really gets tangled when Jules, while on his way to a delivery witnesses the murder of a barefooted young woman who is carrying a tape that has a lot of plot and secrets on it. Who is she, and why does she wind up with an icepick in her back is one of the movie's many enjoyable plot devices that slowly unravels as the film goes on. While on her way to the icepick the lady drops her tape (unknown to him at the time)in Jules delivery pouch, and the chase so to speak is on. Jules charmingly played by Frederic Andrei is not only in danger from the very creepy killers of the lady, but also from two shady Japanese record producers who want his pirated tape of Hawkins beautiful aria from "La Wally" that Jules recorded. Very much influenced by American crime thrillers & film noir but very much it's own film, Diva is a delight from the very beginning to the beautiful ending which takes place on an empty stage and always moves me to shed a few tears. One of the terrific things about Diva is it's lively cast of characters all wonderfully played. Thuy An Luu as the young & sexy Vietnamese model Alba, is most winning as the companion of the strange & seemingly very wealthy recluse played by the great Richard Bohringer. These are characters and performances to embrace, they make one feel good. There are many wonderful set pieces including a quite amazing chase on motorbike through the Paris metro, a stroll in the early morning hours around Paris with Jules and Hawkins, and of course the gorgous singing of Ms. Fernandez. Beautifully photographed by Philippe Rousselot this is one of the highlights of 1982, and among the very best of the decade. The newly released and happily restored DVD does justice to the film both in the quality of the picture and sound.