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IMDb > Diva (1981)
Diva
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Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   5,013 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Daniel Odier (novel)
Jean-Jacques Beineix (adaptation) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Diva on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 April 1982 (USA) more
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. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 6 wins & 5 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(6 articles)
Jean-Jacques Beineix: The Hollywood Interview
 (From The Hollywood Interview. 14 July 2009, 4:20 PM, PDT)

DVD Playhouse--July 2009
 (From The Hollywood Interview. 14 July 2009, 12:00 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
A supremely stylish, genre-hopping delight more

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
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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
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
 

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Additional Details

Runtime:
France:117 min | USA:123 min
Country:
France
Language:
French | English
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Wilhelmenia Fernandez did her own singing voice in this film. more
Goofs:
Continuity: During the metro chase, close-ups of Jules shows the collar of a white tee-shirt underneath his buttoned-up shirt. However, in both previous and following scenes, he is without the tee-shirt. more
Quotes:
[Last Lines]
Jules: It's the only recording.
Cynthia Hawkins: It was you?
Jules: It's yours. It's my gift to you. Forgive me.
Cynthia Hawkins: But... I've never heard myself sing!
Jules: Listen...
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "Zomergasten: (#16.1)" (2003) more
Soundtrack:
L'air de la 'La Wally' more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
19 out of 22 people found the following comment useful:-
A supremely stylish, genre-hopping delight, 1 February 2005
9/10
Author: jono-73 from United Kingdom

One of the best films of the eighties, "Diva" seamlessly manoeuvres across as many genres as it's possible to imagine in a single movie. For starters, it's an elegant romance, as the young postal messenger Jules (Frederic Andrei) haplessly woos his operatic idol Cynthia Hawkins (Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez) against the dreamy backdrop of rainy Paris. Then, it's also an invigorating action thriller as this same Jules, who has made a much sought-after bootleg recording of Ms. Hawkins for his own personal enjoyment, finds himself on the receiving end of more unwanted attention when he accidentally comes into possession of another tape revealing corruption in high places. In the blink of an eye, fledgling director Jean-Jacques Beineix transforms his exhilaratingly romantic vision of Paris into a hard-edged city of neon and nocturnal menace. The action sequences and twists and turns of the plot are handled with a great deal of panache and humour, both visual and verbal, so much so that there are several laugh out loud moments. If it doesn't quite qualify as a full-on comedy, "Diva" is nevertheless a film one certainly watches with a smile on one's face.

I think the reason why this film stands up so well today, even though its super-cool insouciant ambiance has been so often imitated, is not merely due to the freshness and quality of Beineix' direction, or indeed of the performances, but especially because the production values are so staggeringly high for what was basically a modestly budgeted debut feature. The striking, innovative design of Hilton Mc Connico (Jules' loft apartment is a masterpiece) and the cinematography of that superb craftsman Philippe Rousselot (either gritty or lustrous, depending on the mood), are beautifully accompanied by Vladimir Cosma's memorable score. The film is bookended by Fernandez' lovely rendition of the haunting aria from Catalini's "La Wally", and features flawless performances. I particularly enjoyed Richard Bohringer's omniscient zen-like existentialist Gorodish, and Thuy An Luu as his playful chilled-out shop-lifting sidekick Alba.

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