The Big Blue (1988)

The rivalry between Enzo and Jacques, two childhood friends and now world-renowned free divers, becomes a beautiful and perilous journey into oneself and the unknown.

Director:

Luc Besson

Writers:

Luc Besson (story), Luc Besson (screenplay)

Stars:

Jean-Marc Barr, Jean Reno, Rosanna Arquette

3 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rosanna Arquette	...	Johana
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
Geoffrey Carey	...	Supervisor (as Geoffroy Carey)
Bruce Guerre-Berthelot	...	Young Jacques

Storyline

Enzo and Jacques have known each other for a long time. Their friendship started in their childhood days in the Mediterranean. They were not real friends in these days, but there was something they both loved and used to do the whole day long: diving. One day Jacques' father, who was a diver too, died in the Mediterranean sea. After that incident Enzo and Jacques lost contact. After several years, Enzo and Jacques had grown up, Johanna, a young clerk in an insurance office, has to go to Peru. There she meets Jacques who is being studied by a group of scientists. He dives for some minutes into ice-cold water and the scientists monitor his physical state that is more like a dolphin than human. Johanna can not believe what she sees and gets very interested in Jacques but she's unable to get acquainted with him. Some weeks later back in her office, she finds out that Jacques will be competing in a diving championship that takes place in Taormina, Sicily. In order to see Jacques again she ...

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Plot Keywords:

dolphin | sea | passion | deep sea diving | accidental death | 

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Taglines:

The sea has a secret. [Australian poster]

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Sport

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French English Italian

Release Date:

19 August 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Big Blue

Filming Locations:

Ios Island, Greece

Box Office

Budget:

FRF80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,617,462, 21 August 1988

Gross USA:

$3,580,882

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,975,244

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gaumont, Les Films du Loup

Technical Specs

Runtime:

168 min (director's cut) 132 min (original cut) 118 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Color:

Black and White Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Selected as the opening film at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival.

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Goofs

Unlike SCUBA divers, free divers become negatively buoyant below depths of around 15m (varies a bit depending on body type, weight belt, and wet-suit thickness). In the final scene when Jacques let's go of the sled to swim toward the dolphin, he appears neutrally buoyant. In reality, at that depth, he would have had to actively swim toward to surface to avoid passively sinking deeper.

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Quotes

Enzo: A thousand commanders, and we get the Belgian from Alcoholics Anonymous!

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Alternate Versions

The "R" rated director's cut on video includes usages of the "F" word and two sex scenes (featuring nudity by Jean Marc Barr and Roseanna Arquette).

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Connections

Referenced in The Fifth Element (1997)

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Soundtracks

MY LADY BLUE
Lyrics by Luc Besson
Composed by Éric Serra
Performed by Éric Serra

User Reviews

Enchanting

A captivating film that appears almost magical. Fine performance by Jean-Marc Barr that is too easily overlooked. His sensitive portrayal captures one's heart and mind and locks you in for the duration. Well backed up by Arquette and Reno with perhaps too much taken out for the US release. Watch and enjoy and allow yourself to be taken on a magical journey into and through a mans heart and soul. Congratulations to all involved. This one is a modern day classic.