Le Grand Bleu

With this edition of Funga focusing heavily on the ocean, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to feature Le Grand Bleu as this month’s film. It has been a beloved family classic for as long as I can remember, and words truly fail to capture what it means to me and the special memories tied to it.

It was directed in 1988 by Luc Besson and was filmed in the French visual style Cinéma du look (a personal favorite). The movie is a fictionalized story of the friendship and sporting rivalry between two leading champion free divers in the 20th century: Jacques Mayol and Enzo Maiorca.

Jean Reno as Enzo. One of my favorite film characters of all time.

Beautiful depictions of love, friendship, and passion happen throughout the film. To me, however, the most important theme is the magnetism of the ocean. The sea has powers that most of us have felt but are difficult to understand or describe. No wonder it is home to whales and dolphins, a few of the most intelligent, energetic animals on earth. Taking some cinematic features with a pinch of salt (such as some cheesy dolphin moments), I am sure you, too, will find the magic in this movie.