The Big Blue (4 Stars)

This is the latest film in the "Best of Cinema" series, in which a classic film is shown on the first Tuesday of every month. I've seen most of the films in the series, but this was a new film to me. It was directed by Luc Besson, and there was some confusion (to me at least) what the original language was. I finally discovered that the film was made in English, but for years the only DVDs available were dubbed into French. Even the version shown today was confusing. Some of the dialogue spoken by Americans was shown with French subtitles.

The film is about the two diving champions, Jacques Mayol and Enzo Molinari. They're both real life divers, but the film doesn't tell their true story. It could be argued that they're two fictional characters who just happen to have the same names as real world divers.

Jacques is French and Enzo is Italian, but they grow up on the Greek island of Amorgos. No reason is given for this. They're close friends, and they both love the water. Even as children they're both skilled divers.

23 years later, in 1988 (the year the film was made), Enzo is the world diving champion. There's a diving championship in Sicily, and Enzo insists on Jacques taking part, because he considers him to be the only other diver on his level. In the championship Enzo sets a new world record (108 meters), but Jacques defeats him with a 115 meter dive. Their friendly rivalry continues, each breaking the other's records in turn, until Jacques finally dives 122 meters.

Jacques falls in love with an American insurance investigator called Johanna; or rather, she falls in love with him. He loves his pet dolphins more than he loves her, and even when she tells him she's pregnant he would rather remain in the water with them.

I've heard people call "The Big Blue" the best French film ever made. It doesn't deserve that title if it was filmed in English, but I'll let it stand. It's an enjoyable film, but the brief comic interludes are out of place. It could have been better if it had been kept completely serious. Apart from that, I doubt that one of the scenes is technically possible. Jacques and Enzo are on the floor of a swimming pool. They open a bottle of champagne, pour it and drink it. Is that possible? 

At some point I'll make a complete list of the first 24 films in the "Best of Cinema" series. Not tonight. It's too late, and I'm tired.

Success Rate:  - 3.8

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