Diva
Meridian Collection
Director Jean-Jacques Beineix launched the Cinema Du Look movement with this stylish cult thriller that remains as innovative today as when it premiered in 1981. Jules (Frederic Andrei), a young postal carrier, illegally tapes a concert of a reclusive opera singer (American soprano Wilhelmina Wiggins Fernandez). Jules' attempts to woo the diva are interrupted when Taiwanese bootleggers come after the recording. His problems worsen when a prostitute slips another tape, one that incriminates a police chief, into his bag. Jules must escape the police chief, the cop's henchmen and the bootleggers to keep both precious tapes safe - and to stay alive. Featuring critically acclaimed cinematography and a celebrated chase through the Paris Metro, Diva earned Cesar Awards for Best Music, Best Cinematography and Best Directorial Debut.
Member Reviews
Nice movie - Mano
I am not so sure if I go ga ga over this movie. This is nice movie with its own twists and turns. But there are sevaral movies of its generation that were superior. I like British comedy/drama/thrillers.
Here the acting is good. But some of the scenes seem so staged. Dirty cop? Nothing new.
I won't call this classic.Stylish and Quirky - MikeB
This film has loads of style and some quirky humour. It doesn’t make much sense from time to time, but it does keep you watching.
It’s set in Paris and it’s an intrigue chase type thriller. There are twists and turns galore.
I liked the Paris montage, but there is opera and I liked this less. To listen and see a scene of a woman singing arias may be music to some people, but not to others like me; however she is a most beautiful woman so at least that kept my attention.
This movie is like a bag of potato chips, it’s tasty and but once the bag is empty you toss it out.Very impressive debut for Beineix - Coconut_Willy
Watching this movie is a great viewing experience. The storyline here is excellent. The complexity of having multiple sub-plots of basically different movie genres happening in parallel only to converge in the end is handled very nicely throughout the whole thing. I would consider this quite an achievement even more so as it all ends very well. The characters are also all very interesting and well developed. The cast is good doing a very good acting job with an intelligent dialogue. The camera work is very good, the sets and locations also and the soundtrack is excellent. I believe everyone should find something to their taste here as you have enough action, some mystery, a great romance side, an excellent musical aspect and a very contemporary comment on the commercialization of art. Highly recommended.
The transfer to DVD is of good quality even though the picture is a bit grainy. As an extra, there is an interesting but way too brief interview with the director.
Member Reviews
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Nice movie - Mano
I am not so sure if I go ga ga over this movie. This is nice movie with its own twists and turns. But there are sevaral movies of its generation that were superior. I like British comedy/drama/thrillers.
Here the acting is good. But some of the scenes seem ...Stylish and Quirky - MikeB
This film has loads of style and some quirky humour. It doesn’t make much sense from time to time, but it does keep you watching.
It’s set in Paris and it’s an intrigue chase type thriller. There are twists and turns galore.
I liked the Paris ...Very impressive debut for Beineix - Coconut_Willy
Watching this movie is a great viewing experience. The storyline here is excellent. The complexity of having multiple sub-plots of basically different movie genres happening in parallel only to converge in the end is handled very nicely throughout the whole ...