The Big Blue (Le Grand Bleu)
© 1988 GAUMONT
Carolo Varini's glorious monochromatic photography in the first part of this film, a reminiscence of life on a Greek island in 1965, is so stunning that it alone, is a reason to watch this film. (Varini was nominated for a Cesar award for his cinematography).
The only thing that has dated this part of the film, is the unmistakably 80's soundtrack, but once you've seen the film, watch this bit again with the volume down, and pause it, adoring the many breathtaking moments.
The Big Blue centres mostly around two characters, Enzo (Jean Reno) and Jacques (Jean-Marc Barr), who were childhood friends, who shared a passion for diving. As adults, their passion becomes the source of competition - dangerous competition, at that.
Rosanna Arquette, at her most charming in this film, co-stars as Jacques' love interest. Actually, Jacques is her love interest, since Jacques, who experienced the loss of a loved one in a diving accident, has developed lungs of steel, and an extraordinary capacity to control his heart rate and breathing under water.
Griffin Dunn (son of the recently deceased Dominic Dunn, and brother of the slain actress Dominique Dunn), is also in this film. As with Arquette, he did his best work around this time, especially in Scorsese's After Hours (1985).
Another notable cast member is Jean-Marc Barr, who looks so boyishly handsome in this film. Now a middle-aged man, he has managed to maintain a consistent film career since The Big Blue, more recently in von Trier's Dogville and The Boss Of It All (both highly recommended).
Of course, Jean Reno will be well familiar to film lovers already, and is a common feature in Besson's films, always with great results.
This film takes the viewer into some stunning parts of the world. Even the 80's saxophone-driven music is charming, perhaps because Besson was at his most productive from the mid-80's to mid 90's. They were his hey-day, although he did exhibit a return to form with Angel-A (also available on DVD). That is not to suggest that his later films have not been good, or that his best years are behind him.
Actually, Besson penned the lyrics to the main song in the soundtrack, the music for which was written by Eric Serra, the soundtrack composer for most, if not all, Besson's films.
It's also interesting to note that Besson's parents were diving instructors, and that he came up with the idea for this film, while still an adolescent. An accident left him unable to dive, thereby preventing him from becoming a marine biologist, but it is lovely to see a theme so precious to him being used as an element in a successful film.
Those who have shunned his films as demonstrative of style over substance, should watch this film and reevaluate their position. If this film has no substance, how on earth did it manage to resonate emotionally with a generation of youngsters, and still manage to be moving to this day? (The same is true of Léon the Professional, which is highly entertaining and very emotionally rewarding).
The Big Blue is a visually beautiful, sweet, and engaging film. It held a special place in audiences' hearts, and thankfully, whether due to its enduring quality or its nostalgic value, it stands the test of time.