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IMDb > Le grand bleu (1988)
Le grand bleu
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Le grand bleu (1988) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 49 | slideshow) Videos (see all 2)
Le grand bleu (1988) -- Open-ended Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Le grand bleu (1988) -- Open-ended Trailer from Columbia Tristar

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   16,064 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 5% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Luc Besson
Writers:
Luc Besson (story)
Luc Besson (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The Big Blue on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
22 September 1988 (West Germany) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
Between what you know and what you wish, lies the secret of... [The Big Blue] more
Plot:
Enzo and Jacques have known each other for a long time. Their friendship started in their childhood days in the mediterranean... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
3 wins & 6 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Opening This Week: Long-awaited films from Baz Luhrmann and Gus Van Sant
 (From IFC. 24 November 2008, 6:07 AM, PST)

Cameron Takes to the Water Again
 (From WENN. 12 August 2003)

User Comments:
a synonym for the ocean more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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
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Additional Details

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)
more
Runtime:
168 min (extended version) | France:132 min (original cut) | USA:118 min (edited version)
Country:
France | USA | Italy
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
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
Company:
Gaumont more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Director Cameo: [Luc Besson]One of the divers. more
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). more
Quotes:
Uncle Louis: [to Johana] So, where are you from, Henrietta?
Jacques: Johana! New York!
Uncle Louis: New YORK? What KIND of a name is that?
Johanna: No, I'm *from* new York
Uncle Louis: Oh Yes! The best lays are from New York!
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Jean Reno: The Road to 'Léon' (2005) (V) more
Soundtrack:
MY LADY BLUE more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
32 out of 42 people found the following comment useful:-
a synonym for the ocean, 2 March 2003
Author: dbdumonteil

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...

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Game - Who would you cast instead of Rosanna Arquette? Duffy3
the dolphin was. . .(spoiler) midnightgardener
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