Le grand bleu

1988
M18
2h 48m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

56K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

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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.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.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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

56K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

4,763

478

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins & 6 nominations

Videos2

Photos159

+ 153

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The most financially successful French film of the 1980s.

Goofs
Unlike SCUBA divers, free divers become negatively buoyant below depths of around 15m (varies a bit depending on body type, weight belt, and wet-suit thickness).

In the final scene when Jacques lets go of the sled to swim toward the dolphin, he appears neutrally buoyant. In reality, at that depth, he would have had to actively swim toward the surface to avoid passively sinking deeper.

Quotes
Johanna: What's it feel like when you dive?
Jacques: It's a feeling of slipping without falling. The hardest thing is when you're at the bottom.
Johanna: Why?
Jacques: 'Cause you have to find a good reason to come back up... and I have a hard time finding one.

Alternate versions
Original 132-minutes French version has a music score by director Luc Besson's usual composer, Éric 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
Music by Éric Serra
Performed by Éric Serra

User reviews178

Review

Featured review

Hynoptic Masterpiece

I have to watch this movie once a year just to calm my nerves. One of the few films to which I have also purchased the soundtrack. This film, like the sea which is its subject, hypnotizes you, seduces you, rocks you into a state of oneness with the lush scenery. Rosanna Arquette is beautiful and sexy in an uncharacteristically understated way. Barr makes the perfect beau and embodies the spirit of the film and the ocean. I fell in love with Jean Reno in this film. Unforgettable imagery, interesting premise, good chemistry between Arquette and Barr, and Reno is a joy to watch.

Masterfully directed by Luc Besson and a film to treasure.