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Old 05-17-2010, 04:09 PM
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The Big Blue or Le Grand Bleu directed by Luc Bisson, released in 1988 has captured the fascination of free divers and the public at large for sometime. It starred Jean Reno, Jean-Marc Barr, Rosanna Arquette, Griffin Dunne. It has become a cult film of sorts for free divers. There is an interesting role reversal in the film with Jacques Mayol playing the cool, dialed in dude with Enzo Maiorca as a less substantial character. In reality, the two were not that close and Enzo may have been the more down to earth character with Mayol being more "out there." Both are deservedly well recognized for their accomplishments in the world of diving. Jacque Mayol even lived in Ft. Lauderdale, FL for a time and competed offshore of the city back in the day. Some might think the plot is a bit "sappy" at points but the rich visuals in diverse locations, great sound track and excellent cine set the movie apart. It is a diving classic.



A compilation of some segments from the movie and excerpts.

This is what Yahoo Movies has to say about it:

"A visionary epic of obsession and beauty about Jacques Mayol, the handsome diver who is so at home in the water that he seems only half-human. Jacques' best friends are a family of playful porpoises and Enzo Molinari, his swaggering Italian diving rival. Jacques and Enzo grew up together in the Mediterranean, and remain lifelong friends despite a fierce battle for the top prize in the world free diving championships, where divers compete to see who can descend to the furthest depths of the sea with no equipment other than their own courage and determination. But when the dreamer Jacques falls in love with the beautiful Johanna, he finds himself torn between the damsel and the deep blue sea."


Not sure but Enzo may be sporting a fluid filled mask with corrective contacts to remove the need to use air to equalize his mask on descent.
http://famousfrenchfilms.wordpress.c...c-besson-1988/


You can checkout the complete script of the movie, something I've not done before at:
http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/thebigblue.html

The movie was shot at least 22 locations including:

Greece
Le Grand Bleu Bar, Amorgos, Small Cyclades, Greece
Manganari Island, Greece
Agia Anna, Amorgos, Small Cyclades, Greece
Amorgos, Small Cyclades, Greece
Kalotaritissa Bay, Amorgos, Cyclades, Greece (stranded ship)
Small Cyclades, Greece
Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA (many jumping dolphin sequences, including final shot)
Taormina, Messina, Sicily, Italy (Diving Scenes)
Alpes-Maritimes, France
Antibes, Alpes-Maritimes, France
Bahamas
Corsica, France
France
French Riviera, Alpes-Maritimes, France
Italy
Marineland, Antibes, Alpes-Maritimes, France (Aquarium)
Peru
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
New York City, New York, USA
Paris, France
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095250/locations

Still more about the shoot locations at: http://www.movie-locations.com/movie...l#.VUJII96IaxI




The wreck of the Olympia on Amorgos used as a location in the film for a remarkable free diving salvage effort by Enzo.
http://www.artificialowl.net/2008/09...r-town-of.html


Another view of Amorgos Island
http://cache.virtualtourist.com/



https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=9&v=jO2M3mr1KEM
A 1 1/2 hour documentary on the making of the movie (in French).



Bisson, Barr and Mayol
More about Jacque Mayol at:
http://al7mi.com/jejufreedive/dt.htm






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transcribed by:
Rick Iossi

Last edited by ricki; 09-21-2015 at 02:21 PM.
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