Le grand bleu
Tags: cult, romantic

Plot synopsis:
Two children, Jacques Mayol (Jean-Marc Barr) and Enzo Molinari (Jean Reno), have grown up on the Greek island of Amorgos in the 1960s. They challenge each other to collect a coin on the sea floor and Jacques loses. Later Jacques' father — who harvests shellfish from the seabed using a pump-supplied air hose and helmet — goes diving for shellfish. His breathing apparatus and rope gets caught and punctured by rocks on the reef and weighed down by water, he drowns. Jacques and Enzo can do nothing but watch in horror as he is killed.
By the 1980s, both are well known freedivers, swimmers who can remain underwater for great times and at great depths. Enzo is on Sicily now, where he rescues a trapped diver from a shipwreck. He is a world champion freediver with a brash and strong personality, and now wishes to find Mayol and persuade him to return to no limits freediving in order to prove he is still the better of the two, in a friendly sports rivalry. Mayol himself works extensively with scientific research as a human research subject, and with dolphins, and is temporarily participating in research into human physiology in the iced-over lakes of the Peruvian Andes, where his remarkable and dolphin-like bodily responses to cold water immersion are being recorded. Insurance broker Johana Baker (Rosanna Arquette) visits the station for work purposes and is introduced to Jacques. She secretly falls in love with him. When she hears that Jacques will be at the World Diving Championships in Taormina, Sicily, she fabricates an insurance problem that requires her presence there, in order to meet him again. She and Jacques fall in love. However none of them realize the extent of Jaques' allurement with the depths. Jacques beats Enzo by 3 feet (1 meter) at this, their first competition and Enzo offers them a glass dolphin as a gift, and a tape measure to show the small difference between Jacques' and Enzo’s records. Johana goes back home to New York but is fired after her deception is discovered; she leaves New York and begins to live with Jacques. She hears the story that if one truly loves the deep sea, then a mermaid will appear at the depths of the sea, and will lead a diver to an enchanted place.
At the next World Diving Championships, Enzo beats Jacques' record. The depths at which the divers are competing enter new territory and the dive doctor suggests they should cease competing, but the divers decide to continue. Jacques is asked to look at a local dolphinarium where a new dolphin has been placed, and where the dolphins are no longer performing; surmising that the new dolphin is homesick, the three of them break in at night to liberate the dolphin and transport her to the sea again. Back at the competition, other divers attempt to break Enzo’s new record but all fail. Jacques then attempts his next dive and reaches 400 ft (122m) breaking Enzo's world record. Angered by this, Enzo prepares to break Jacques' new world record. The doctor supervising the dive warns that the competitors must not go deeper - based upon Jacques' bodily reactions, at around 400 ft, conditions, and in particular the pressure, will become lethal and divers will be killed if they persist in attempting such depths. Enzo dismisses the advice and attempts the dive anyway, but is unable to make his way back to the surface. Jacques dives down to rescue him. Enzo, dying, tells Jacques that the doctor was right and also that it is better down there, and begs Jacques to help him back down to the depths, where he belongs. Jacques is grief-stricken and refuses, but after Enzo dies in his arms, finally honors his dying wish and takes Enzo's body back down to 400feet, leaving him to drift to the ocean floor. Jacques - himself suffering from cardiac arrest after the dive - is rescued and brought back to the surface by supervising scuba divers and requires his heart to be restarted with a defibrillator before being placed in medical quarters to recover.
Jacques appears to be recovering from the diving accident, but later experiences a strange hallucinatory dream in which the ceiling collapses and the room fills with water, and he finds himself in the ocean depths surrounded by dolphins. Johana, who has just discovered she is pregnant, returns to check up on Jacques in the middle of the night, but finds him lying awake yet unresponsive in his bed with bloody ears and a bloody nose. Johana attempts to help him, but Jacques begins to get up and walk to the empty diving boat and gets suited up for one final dive. Desperately, Johana begs Jacques not to go, saying she is alive but whatever has happened at the depths is not, but he says he has to. She tells Jacques that she is pregnant, and sorrowfully begs him to stay, but finally understands he feels he must go. The two embrace and Johana breaks down crying. Jacques then places the release cord for the dive ballast in her hand, and - still sobbing - she pulls it, sending him down to the depths he loves. Jacques descends and floats for a brief moment staring into the darkness. A dolphin then appears and - dreamlike - Jacques lets go of his harness and swims away with it into the darkness.
=== Original and alternate (US) endings ===
The original ending was intentionally ambiguous, though considering the depth Jacques has swum to, it would seem he is unlikely to regain the surface alive, and he dies. In the US version the ending is extended with an additional scene. After swimming away with the dolphin, Jacques is brought back to the surface.

Review: And he achieves it in every way, specially letting the audience identify themselves with it.Perhaps my favorite Besson movie was "The Fifth Element" (I like them all), but after having the privilege of experiencing this fantastic, beautiful, stunning, vivid and moving film, "The Big Blue" passed from one of the medium levels to definitely the top one.
The characters all gained strength, the underwater scenes all made sense, the previous movie was completely backed up, and the feeling that this movie was a contemplative journey gained finally its place.I gave it a 10 out of 10, not for the US version (how can they even think of erasing Eric Serra's score?!?!?) which, for its mutilations, deserved a 1, but for the version longue, which is the only way the movie shall be seen.
I´m lucky enough to live in a place near the sea very similar and as beautiful as those in the movie and the opening scenes always remind me of my teenage years and the waters i explored like young Jaqques Mayol does in the beginning of the movie.
Well there´s scientists in it, and deep underwater, and even under ice diving scenes, but it´s not a scifi film, although the American "version" Movie Trailler presented it like if it were some new esotheric adventure underwater sci-fi horror movie, when in fact it is not.So what is this movie about ?!!It´s about what you want it to be.
You just have to feel it.As Luc Besson said in an interview, at some point in the movie he was stuck, because he didn´t know how to carry the audience inside.Then the real Jaqques Mayol, who worked in the film as a diving and story consultant took Besson diving with him one day and made him experience the sea in his way.
The Big Blue is a story mainly centred around Jacques Mayol (Jean-Marc Barr), a free diver.
In the story we also have Enzo (Jean Reno), Jacque's lifelong friend and nemesis who motivates him to free dive in competition (so he has some competition) and also gets him work in other areas of diving.
The story continues as Jacques struggles with problems in his past, present and future.The Big Blue is an unusual movie.
Fans of Jean Reno would certainly love this movie.I really enjoyed this film.
The movie's technical qualities can only arouse admiration: a shiny photography that perfectly reflects the color of the sea, the blue and a fluid making sometimes clever: Jacques' childhood is made in black and white.
For anyone wanting to watch a fantastic dream of a film, with absorbing characters, true love in all its forms and some awesome underwater photography then this is for you!
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...
THE BIG BLUE (adv.-romance, 1988) Mayol (Jean-Marc Barr) is determined to dethrone current world-free diving champion Enzo (Jean Reno).
But as Mayol and Enzo's competition become more fierce, Joanna slowly feels herself drifting away from Mayol, as his fascination with the sea takes on an obsessive turn.Critique: Marvelouslly filmed underwater adventure from master-Frenchman Luc Besson, who has specialized on action films.
Le Grand Bleu is the true story of famous French diver Jacques Mayol who challenged death.Jacques and Enzo were always passionate about sea and this passion gave rise to their spirited rivalry.Enzo will never give up as he doesn't want to be beaten at all by anyone.They approve the widespread notion that one who goes for a thing will get it not the one who saw the thing.Mayol's character portrayed by Jean Marc Barr reminds one of celebrated Jacques Yves Cousteau who advocated the philosophy of profundity by making underwater his home.Le Grand Bleu's strength lies in its wonderfully shot visuals as well as catchy musical score by Eric Serra.Even,Jacques Mayol offered his indispensable contribution as a technical consultant on this film.The film was a massive hit among youngsters throughout Europe attracting nine million viewers in France.Luc Besson created one of the best films of his career featuring impressive underwater images.The film's success proved that the aesthetic quality can only save the cinema which is facing tough competition from television..
Something that was quite the contrary of angry youths rioting on the streets in the 60s.Jacques Mayol and Enzo Molinari are both world-class free-divers and lovers of the big blue sea.
Then the main diver dude and his retarded friend compete in diving, and this simple scene that should last about 15 minutes goes on and on for most of the rest of the movie, and the dumb broad falls deeper and deeper in love with the guy even though he's a complete moron who bangs her and then refuses to talk to her as much as is possible.
However, the other characters were completely unbelievable to me, and the story was...well, kind of retarded.Without spoilers, I will say there are several deaths in the film that are ridiculous and completely avoidable, at least from the way Besson shows them, they are.The character choices are also ridiculous, with women reduced to broad, sexist stereotypes of becoming easily obsessed with commitment and children, and chasing men with little or no reason.There are a whole lot of beautiful shots of dolphins and ocean locales, but if you want to see that, you can watch the Discovery Channel or "Planet Earth", no need to make a 3 hour excuse for a story.In the end, I can't possibly recommend anyone waste their time on this.
Learning this I was further astounded that I hadn't already seen it.French made by internationally renound director Luc Besson both as writer and director the Big Blue is a curious film that left me scratching my head yet oddly entertained.It tells the story of two friends since childhood with a passion for competetive deep sea diving.
One character was conceited while the other ignorant and though gripped I struggled to care about the characters quite as much as I should have.The plot though competent is wafer thin, the love story flawed and considering this film is almost 3hrs long I felt it was remarkably shallow.On the flipside however the cast delivered on every front, the writing was wonderful the score was hugely fitting and the cinematography was absolutely second to none.
I appreciate all of the reviews and comments on "The Big Blue", but after reading all the feedback on how great the movie and soundtrack has meant to everyone, I failed to here much on the signature theme, or opening/ending music track used in the US release with Bill Conti's music score!
You see, the first time I watched this great film, there was this wonderful fantasy style track with a beautiful hook in it that linked Jacques,the dolphins, and the viewers together.
Why would the credit on the film have Bill Conti, and the CD soundtrack have Eric Serra's?...and for the longest time, I didn't here anything about the original "Le Grand bleu" version on VHS!
If anybody wants a copy...email me and I will set you up personally the way my friend helped me end this long awaited Conti soundtrack.Again, Eric's music is great, but I disagree with what some have said about Conti's score.
The awful dialogue and terrible acting are only slightly redeemed by some nice cinematography.Reno over-acts tremendously and Arquette plays quite possibly the dumbest blonde character ever (For goodness sake - your boyfriend prefers to spend the night with a dolphin - go figure!).Oh, I so wish I watched the original version, not the bloated forty minute longer directors cut!What a shame.
When one sees that a film is directed by Luc Besson, has music by Eric Serra and that it has Jean Reno, it is hard not to expect a lot.
Instead the character felt almost like an afterthought at first and Arquette didn't do much for me sadly.Regarding 'The Big Blue's' story, it generally, while full of enough things to make the film worth sticking with, is a bit thin for such a long length.However, the friendship has a lot of charm and warmth, with sprinkles of humour and nostalgia.
Luc Besson sure knows how to place the camera for the maximum reward; and the music is faint, yet pleasing, courtesy of Eric Serra.Lovely to watch, it has put a spring in my step all day..
At first, the reason why I chose to watch this film was the beautiful movie poster that was portrayed like a commercial advertisement about the sea made by a travel agency.
And also the soundtrack is one of the wonderful aspects in this movie.The music deserved to get a Cesar Award as a best sound in 1989.Johana (Rosanna Arquette), Jacques (Jean-Mark Barr), Enjo (Jean Reno) are the 3 main characters who conflict emotions with each other and lead the story to the end.
And yes, for him, it's the best of endings, because he doesn't belong here, he really belongs more to the sea than to us.This film is quite different from Hollywood movies, but there are some aspects to attract us to watch more than once.
I have feeling this is just the movie he wanted to make, without anyone forcing him to change anything (I'm talking about 163min version longer and original French version).Beautiful story about love, friendship, connection between man and a Nature (See) and something we seek for all our lives goes much deeper than the spoken or written words can say.
Just look what reviews people wrote about it!However, here is technical part: Luc Besson did excellent job, camera is incredible (notice usage of blue colour), actors fit their role perfectly and screenplay is great (some would say there isn't any  yes there is, but sometimes picture reveals something words never could).
It would be a shame not to mention incredible music composed by Eric Serra  one of the best soundtracks ever follows movie perfectly (nothing can beat original ending with My Lady Blue).Of course, I can tell you that Le Grand Bleu belongs to the top 3 movies I have ever seen and believe me, I have seen a lot (forget soulless", Oscar winners described above and top 100 classics people always talk about, this is something different) and that it is the most underrated movie on this site (it should be ranked over 9, at least 8.8), but when it comes to Le Grand Bleu, it really doesn't matter.Without smallest hesitation, 10/10..
...I certainly held mine.If you ever wanted to know what the international sport of SCUBA-less, very-deep, 'free-diving' was about, here's your film with a dream-like twist.Haunting, exquisite, sublime, beautifully photographed and scored, THE BIG BLUE will find you pushing-the-envelope inside your own lungs right on the living room couch.
A beautiful introduction with the young Jacques Mayol filmed in Black and White which you don't always realise till the remainder of the film continues in colour.I could go on but you only get 1,000 words here and I do not want to give it all away, though many have before me.I do want to say just one thing, how, upon seeing Le Version Longue could anyone decide to cut away any one scene never mind 40+ minutes and then to replace the perfect music from Eric Serra.
Characters who stand out - check: Jean Reno ( my first intro to his wide and expansive body of work), Rosanna Arquette (who I secretly didn't like but somehow loved in this storyline), & Jean-Marc Barr (immediate fascination in him) together create the main trio of focus....along with some of the most captivating scenery along Le Côte d'Azure, and underwater camera work that is and was astounding before James Cameron found his new hobby, and a few funny characters to lend voice to the audiences need to remember to breathe, and that there is levity in all this beauty.
Arquette sees Barr as a mysterious, incredibly handsome man who she feels pulled toward like nothing else she's ever known, and sees Reno as Barry's friend, but also as Barry's competitor, forever childlike in the way that he never allowed himself to be challenged by Barr when they were children, and has finally now come to the point in his life where he has to lay his personal challenge down, to see where he would stand next to " The little Frenchman".
Just a quick notice, this review refers to the version longue, European edition Beautiful scenery, extraordinary underwater photography and possibly the best ever film-soundtrack combination (why they cut Eric Serra's magnificent score for the US edition is beyond me) the Big Blue is a stunning film to look and actually brings you into this extraordinary world.
Starting initially with the rivalry between legendary free divers Jacques Mayol (Jean Marc Barr) and Enzo Molinari (Jean Reno), a love interest is quickly added in the form of Rosanna Arquette's Joanna as the competition heightens.There are some hilarious moments (mostly coming from Jean Reno) but at the same time it's also very sad as Joanna finds her love being ignored.
THE BIG BLUE (Le Grand Bleu) Aspect ratio: 2.39:1 (Technovision)Sound format: 6-track Dolby Stereo SR(35mm and 70mm release prints)Two of the world's greatest free divers (Jean-Marc Barr and Jean Reno) are divided by their competitive spirit, and their professional rivalry is further complicated when Barr falls in love with a beautiful admirer (Rosanna Arquette).Luc Besson first expressed his love of the sea with this magical visual poem, in which the plot (Barr's struggle between physical reality and the spiritual lure of the sea) takes a back seat to the stunning widescreen visuals.
The sea is the star of this movie but Jean Reno, Jean-Marc Barr and Rosanna Arquette put in good supporting performances.
Even though not easy to understand, this movie contains more chemistry than what can be found in many love stories we've seen.The Big Blue is about the three dimensions of life: living, loving, and leaving.
The sequences with Arquette, particularly toward the end, felt unnatural compared to the world Besson created between the two divers, though I did care enough about their relationship that I got pretty upset when Mayol left the pregnant Joanna behind for the sea, just like his own father...Anyway, an interesting story, fairly involving for the most part, but I have a feeling I would have been better off seeing the non-US, non-director's cut.
It's a meandering, tedious 2 hours and 48 minutes of pointless scenes, that have no reason for being spliced into the film other than the director shot them.The idea of the movie would seem to be a winner: Two men who love free diving and have known and competed with each other since childhood are engaged in a dangerous contest to break the world's record in free diving.
Interesting but slow, long and clumsy.The story of two childhood friends with a love for the sea and diving.
Even now, when I hear that beautiful intro with its echoing dolphins and lonely sax; I smell the sea, the food, and remember the faces of all those dear lost friends, and in a way, I have this most wonderful film (or Luc Besson et al) to thank for accompanying me, through a wonderful time in my life..
My Rating : 8/10I'm referring to the extended/long version of this movie.It is a dream to watch this film.
`Cut,' says our director Luc Besson, `OK Action, this time now in ENGLISH.' There are literally TWO versions of the same movie.
Because they had this English language version in the can, along with a American female lead in Rosanna Arquette, it got a big commercial US release.The male lead is played by Jean-Marc Barr who is a hot looking French dude who never really to made another big English language film.
'Le Grand Bleu' is unlike any Luc Besson film I've ever seen and what a movie it is!
Enzo and Jacques, and all the other characters in this story become dear friends as you watch this film again and again.
From then on we talked continuously for weeks.I just wish more people could see it, and not the us version - I've not seen it, but I'm terrified at the prospect of a different ending.One last thing - I absolutely have to have this film on DVD, but I don't think its on that format yet :( If I'm wrong...please let me know where I can get it..
Movie Review: "Le grand bleu" (1988)Being the opening film of the Cannes Film Festival on May 11th 1988 in its 41st edition, young, talented and promising director Luc Besson, not yet 30 years of age, already coming to full flourishment in proper exercised cinematic language in color, camera motion and acting beats with fellow casting members Jean-Marc Barr, Jean Reno and Rosanna Arquette struggling within the element of water to find purpose in life, concerning deeper and deeper pushed limits in open water free diving challenges, when suspense works to hyper-realistic conclusions beyond the usual love theme under an hypnotic soundtrack by exceptional composer Eric Serra alongside Besson's directions of utmost passion for his source material felt in every scene of the motion picture.Copyright 2018 Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC.
They were not real friends in these days, but there was something they both loved and used to do the whole day long: diving.Luc Besson makes some beautiful films, and tends to push the imagery into the realm of fantasy.
Jacques' best friend Enzo (Jean Reno) wants him to be his rival at the diving competition.
While Johana and Jacques fall in love, they try very hard to make their relationship work.Directed by Luc Besson (The Fifth Element, The Messenger:The Story of Joan of Arc, Subway) made an intriguing if flawed film about the sea, diving, love and friendships.
when they focus on the sea, especially the deep diving sequences and Jacques's connections to the dolphins are the film's best moments.
"The Big Blue" is a good one but if they were playing it at the film festival and i finally get to see it in a movie theater.