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 ...

---

Plot Keywords:

dolphin | sea | deep sea diving | accidental death | drowning | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Sport

---

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

Luc Besson considered Mel Gibson for the main role.

---

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.

---

Quotes

[after getting 10.000 dollars]
Roberto: Enzo, what are you going to do with the money?
Enzo: Have the car painted.
Roberto: Guiseppe will do that for 25 dollars.
Enzo: Then tell him to wax it too.

---

Alternate Versions

Original 132-minutes French version has a music score by director Luc Besson's usual composer, Eric Serra. The USA version is 118 minutes long and was re-scored by Bill Conti. The version released in the rest of Europe is 118 minutes long. A special Version Longue (long) director's cut released in France is 168 minutes long.

---

Connections

Featured in HBO First Look: The Best Man for the Job: The Making of 'The Professional' (1994)

---

Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Very real..

For me the grand bleu is something unique...i have never seen a movie were everybody has the same love for the sea,and for their sport... Even if the movie is from 1988...it is still one of a kind!!! Go and see it yourself!! When i lived in France in 1989..everybody was talking about Le Grand Bleu...I still have the music.. And a poster on the toilet..

It remindes me of the good old time.. I have also the movie version long on DVD...it is so beautiful!! You will laugh and cry during Le Grand Bleu. Find out for yourself what your impression is, and you wont be disappointed!