Betty Blue (1986)

A lackadaisical handyman and aspiring novelist tries to support his younger girlfriend as she slowly succumbs to madness.

Director:

Jean-Jacques Beineix

Writers:

Philippe Djian (novel), Jean-Jacques Beineix

Stars:

Jean-Hugues Anglade, Béatrice Dalle, Gérard Darmon

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Hugues Anglade	...	Zorg
Béatrice Dalle	...	Betty (as Beatrice Dalle)
Gérard Darmon	...	Eddy (as Gerard Darmon)
Consuelo De Haviland	...	Lisa
Clémentine Célarié	...	Annie (as as Clementine Celarié)
Jacques Mathou	...	Bob
Vincent Lindon	...	Richard le jeune policier
Jean-Pierre Bisson	...	Le commissaire (complete version)
Dominique Pinon	...	Le dealer / Dope dealer (complete version)
Bernard Hug	...	(complete version)
Catherine D'At
Claude Aufaure	...	Le médecin
Louis Bellanti	...	Mario
Dominique Besnehard	...	Client pizzeria
Raoul Billerey	...	Le vieux policier

Storyline

Zorg is a handyman working at the seaside in France, maintaining and looking after the wooden bungalows. He lives a quiet and peaceful life, working diligently and writing in his spare time. He is in love with Betty, a young woman who is as beautiful as she is wild and unpredictable. After a dispute with Zorg's boss, they leave and Betty finds a place to stay at her girlfriend's house. The girlfriend's lover owns an Italian restaurant and there they find a job. She is obsessed to try to get one of Zorg's books published, but it is rejected, which makes Betty fly into a rage. Suddenly, Betty's wild manners start to get out of control. Zorg sees the woman he loves slowly going insane. Is his love for Betty strong enough, if even if it comes to the worst?

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Plot Keywords:

nudity | pubic hair | obsessive love | female nudity | sexual desire | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The color Blue appears in almost every shot throughout the film.

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Goofs

After 30 minutes Betty throws Zorg's boss from the porch. She wears only a shirt, her bottom part is clearly nude. She goes inside and starts throwing things out of the window. Then she wears a slip

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Quotes

[first lines]
Zorg: [voice-over] I had known Betty for a week. We screwed every night. The forecast was for storms.

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a 178 minute Director's Cut version.

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Connections

Referenced in There's Nothing Out There (1991)

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Soundtracks

Prendre Un Enfant Dans Ses Bras
Yves Duteil / Sté Lécritoire n°1 / publication F. Day n°1

User Reviews

Love in their madness.

It was ten years ago when I saw the two hour version. Watching the director's cut was like seeing it for the first time. This version concentrated more on Jean-Hugues' character Zorg and his love and devotion to the mentally disintegrating Betty. The story takes its time, allowing us to understand Betty's illness and appreciate Zorg's erratic behaviour. The English title can be off putting because the expectations focus on the character Betty, played brilliantly by Dalle.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

7 November 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Betty Blue

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$29,383, 9 November 1986

Gross USA:

$2,016,851

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,016,851

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gaumont, Cargo Films, Constellation Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

185 min 119 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1