Director Jean-Jacques Beineix launched the Cinéma du Look movement with this stylish cult thriller that remains as innovative today as when it premiered in 1981. Jules (Frédéric Andréi), a young postal carrier, illegally tapes a concert of a reclusive opera singer (American soprano Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez). Jules’ attempts to woo the diva are interrupted when Taiwanese bootleggers come after the recording. His problems become worse 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 César Awards for Best Music, Best Cinematography and Best Directorial Debut. –Lionsgate
Jean-Jacques Beineix (born October 8, 1946) is a French film director.
In 1964, Jean-Jacques Beineix started his career as Jean Becker’s assistant director on the famous French TV series, Les saintes chéries until the end of 1967. Then, in 1970 he worked for Claude Berri and in 1971 for Claude Zidi. In 1977, he directed his first short movie Le chien de M. Michel which won the first prize at the Trouville Festival. In 1980, he directed his first feature film Diva which received four César Award in 1982 followed by Moon in the Gutter. This movie was nominated at Cannes Festival in 1983. In 1986, Jean-Jacques Beineix directed Betty Blue (37°2 le matin) with Béatrice Dalle and Jean-Hugues Anglade. This film was nominated to the best foreign movie Oscar. He directed Roselyne et les lions in 1989, IP5: L’île aux pachydermes in 1992 and Mortel transfert in 2001. In Fall 2006 he published the first volume… read more
I've wanted a loft with a bathtub in the middle ever since I watched this movie almost 30 years ago. Just watched it again the other night - it's even better than I remembered, stunning stylized shots of city scenes, gorgeous color, sympathetic characters who ride mopeds like they meant to, and deliciously vicious villains. Beineix went on to direct the amazing Betty Blue. Enough said, watch this movie now.
Stylish baby! What a film. Every little detail is a wonder. Based on the book by Delacorta, Beineix does the unthinkable by inverting the plot so that the stars of the book are secondary and the secondary characters are front and center. It is a genius choice! Like the book, it ties up nicely with stylish little bow! Awesome.
Above: Stand-ins help rehearse a scene from Public Enemies. Photo by Rob Olewinski. I spent a few days in the summer of 2008 on the set of
Almost like a pop music video with the thematic concerns of Neil Jordan and Luc Besson, but with style rooted more firmly in classic French crime cinema, Diva is certainly an interesting and… read review