Scuba Diving - The Big Blue

A Review of the Big Blue (Le Grand Bleu) by Luc Besson

The Big Blue was a massive hit in many European countries (particularly in France - its director was the Luc Besson after all), but was actually a minor commercial flop upon its release in other countries. Since its theatrical release though it has become a huge cult classic due to its fantastic cinematography (both over and underwater), wonderfully ambient soundtrack (composed by Eric Serra) and an almost tangible existential/philosophical feeling that permeates most of the film.

The Big Blue Story Outline

The Big Blue focuses on the character Jaques Mayol and the relationships he has with a childhood contemporary called Enzo Molinari (Jean Reno), a woman called Johana (Rosanna Arquette) and the sea (the Big Blue of the title).

Jaques and Enzo are freedivers: two of the best in the world. Throughout their lives they have pushed eachother onwards to greater depths. Jaques is an introverted character who witnessed the death of his father in a diving accident when he was a young boy. Enzo is a proud and amusing character in the movie, providing a counterbalance to Jaques’ introversion. The main protagonist is Jaques though, and we see two worlds through his eyes… a world above water that Jacques has difficulty comprehending and another that he understands perfectly beneath it.

The Big Blue must have inspired thousands of people to take up SCUBA diving, even though the movie itself is about freediving and not SCUBA. What is inspiring about the movie is not the story or the characters but the whole experience of just watching it. The underwater scenes are truly magical and the soundtrack, although dated now in places (the synthesizer was all the rage in the 1980s remember), is simply stunning. Combined they produce a magical, mysterious and really moving experience.

If you have never seen this movie (or heard the soundtrack), watching the Big Blue might inspire you to try diving sometime soon!

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