The Big Blue ( Le grand bleu )

The Big Blue (DVD) (*)

$21.99

Original Title: Le grand bleu
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Subtitles )
French ( Dolby Digital Stereo )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
161 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (2.35:1)

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Trailer(s)
Uncut

Movie filmed in 1988 and produced in:
France ( France, Benelux )
Italy ( Italy, Greece )
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Luc Besson

Written By:
Luc Besson

Actors:
Rosanna Arquette ..... Johana Baker
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 (Enzo's Mother)
Geoffrey Carey ..... Supervisor (as Geoffroy Carey)
Bruce Guerre-Berthelot ..... Young Jacques

Synopsis:

Two men answer the call of the ocean in this romantic fantasy adventure. Jacques (Jean-Marc Barr) and Enzo (Jean Reno) are a pair of friends who have been close since childhood, and who share a passion for the dangerous sport of free diving. Professional diver Jacques opted to follow in the footsteps of his father, who died at sea when Jacques was a boy; to the bewilderment of scientists, Jacques harbors a remarkable ability to adjust his heart rate and breathing pattern in the water, so that his vital signs more closely resemble that of dolphins than men (he even considers a school of dolphins as his extended family). As Enzo persuades a reluctant Jacques to compete against him in a free diving contest - determining who can dive deeper and longer without scuba gear - Jacques meets Johanna (Rosanna Arquette), a beautiful insurance investigator from America, and he finds that he must choose between his love for her and his love of the sea. Le Grand Bleu ran 132 minutes in its original French version, but it was trimmed to 118 for American release, with the original score by Eric Serra replaced by music from Bill Conti. While the film did middling business in the U.S., it was a huge success in Europe, and director Luc Besson released an expanded 168 minute version in 1998.

Jacques (Barr, BREAKING THE WAVES) and his friendly rival Enzo (Reno, THE PROFESSIONAL) are considered masters of free-diving and have made a career out of this one-of-a-kind competition. Jacques feels an unusual bond with the sea and Enzo is in it for the sheer danger involved. A new dimension of their lifelong rivalry is generated by the beautiful Johana (Arquette, DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN) who leaves her career in New York to accompany the two men on the international diving circuit. Beautiful underwater cinematography and a stunning score enrich Besson's celebrated English-language debut.

This product was added to our catalog on Wednesday 04 November, 2009.