Jean Reno and Jean-Marc Barr play diving rivals who have been holding
their breath competitively since childhood. While Reno is corrupt and
greedy, Barr dives for the beauty of it. The underwater photography,
especially in the dream sequence, is breathtaking. As is Barr's full
frontal. Arquette's reporter quickly relinquishes impartiality in
Barr's (sexual) favour. Le Grand Bleu made a splash in the
international market, and established Besson as a director to be
reckoned with, as well as setting a precedent for foreign-language
success in Hollywood: the innocent, the locations, shy courtship, hot
sex, old-fashioned moral. And dolphins.
