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 | deep sea diving | accidental death | drowning | 

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Taglines:

Between what you know and what you wish, lies the secret of... [The Big Blue]

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality and language

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:

FRF 80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,234, 16 July 2000, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,500,000

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

The underwater shots with the dolphins were filmed in the Virgin Islands in large enclosures, and the dolphins were flown there from the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys. The dolphin who appears most often on screen is a male named Natua, who had also taken part in dolphin language experiments because of his intelligence.

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Goofs

Enzo would have very marked lines on his face from "mask squeeze" from going to those depths at the end, when Jacque is holding him.

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Quotes

[Enzo pulls out a cigarette inside of a diving bell]
Noireuter: Smoking is absolutely forbidden.
Enzo: It isn't lit yet.
Noireuter: You shouldn't even carry cigarettes on board.
Enzo: Listen, we're not supposed to piss either, but it doesn't stop you from carrying "it" on board.

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Connections

Referenced in Fickende Fische (2002)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

took my breath away

This movie has been a favorite of mine since it was first released. I enjoy the romance of the films locations. I enjoy the small bits of humor within the twisting plot. Unlike any movie anyone has ever seen before. just beautiful.