- Actors: Wilhelmenia Fernandez, Frédéric Andréi, Richard Bohringer, Thuy An Luu, Jacques Fabbri
- Directors: Jean-Jacques Beineix
- Writers: Jean-Jacques Beineix, Daniel Odier, Jean Van Hamme
- Producers: Claudie Ossard, Irène Silberman, Serge Silberman
- Format: NTSC, Import
- Language: French
- Subtitles: English
- Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
- Number of discs: 1
- MPAA Rating:
- Studio: Fox Lorber
- Release Date: Nov 19 1997
- Run Time: 123 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
- ASIN: 6304689640
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon.com
Jean-Jacques Beineix (Betty Blue) made a catchy debut as a director with this slick, defiantly superficial 1982 movie about a young mail carrier who illegally records a performance by an opera singer, then gets the tape mixed up with evidence that could incriminate gangsters. Wearing flashy commercialism like a badge, Beineix fills the screen with explosions of disposable pop kitsch. Yet he also tells a fairly compelling story in the process, a story that only seems to get more interesting the closer one gets to the end. An unusual experience, Diva should be seen also for the influence it had on the look and feel of movies and music videos in the '80s. --Tom Keogh
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
A classic
April 20 2004
Format:DVD
Most films are produced by professional production houses and have elements of the formulaic. They are action thrillers, romances, horrors or mysteries. Production companies will use teams of writers a bank of directors and hire actors who have some star quality. Some films from production houses are good, most are mediocre and some are bombs. However most tend to be reasonably simple in construction and use the same tools of audience manipulation.
Diva is a film that is different from the main stream. It is in reality simply a mystery thriller with a well-written comic plot. From that point of view it can not be said to be an intellectual film it is very much a main stream production. However whilst not an intellectual film it is a intelligent film.
The plot is multi dimensional. A courier secretly tapes the performance of a reclusive opera star. The opera star has never allowed her work to be copied so that the tape is immensely valuable. At the same time a dying woman puts into the couriers bag a tape which holds the clue to a major corruption scandal. The film is about the pursuit of the courier by two lots of villains, one chasing the recording the others chasing the tape.
Introduced into the mix is the character of a detective figure who is unlike the conventional action hero as one can be. A character who is obsessed with a Zen like philosophy, who lives in a huge bar apartment and does incredibly complex jigsaw puzzles and who makes strange speeches on the art of buttering the baguette.
Rather than the film being powered by a simple plot each scene is carefully crafted both to develop the narrative of the film and also to illustrate the feel of the film and to define the characters. The opening scene is a glorious aria from the rather obscure opera La Wally. The aria is one of subtle beauty and gravity and it is sung by the Diva of the title who is a woman of incredible attractiveness.
The key of course is that the film is entertaining and keeps one interested, as it does not use the normal formulas and resolutions of conventional mysteries. It is rather an entry into a slightly strange surreal world. Although France makes its share of dud films, films like this give it the reputation of a country which makes films which are more enjoyable than those released by the mainstream.
Quintessential 80s French film-making,
Jan 1 2012
Format:DVD
In the same way 'The Breakfast Club' defined a certain kind of 1980s
US filmmaking, and 'Blow Up' defined 1960s hipness, 'Diva'
defined a certain kind of 1980s European cinema.
That doesn't mean it's great, just seminal. It marked a turning away
from deep psychology, philosophy, politics or even plot, and marked an
emphasis on style, energy, colors, etc. The movie is about being a cool
movie, with cool sets, cool shots, a cool car chase, etc. The plot is
just enough to hold it all together.
All that said, it is great to look at, the chase is fun, and the film
is fun too, in an empty calorie, music video sort of way. It's
frustrating. If the acting was a little better (the leads range from
pretty good to very awkward) and the story had a little more heart and
brains, it could have kept it's grand style, and been a great film, not
just an entertaining, great looking film.
The new Meridian version is disappointingly weak. I actually
prefer my old Anchor Bay copy (I believe the same version
is the hgv edition in Canada), which was itself far from
perfect, but seems to be stronger both visually and aurally.
Read the in depth analysis on DVD Beaver comparing the
Meridian, the Anchor Bay and the Fox Lorber and you'll
get some interesting details on the differences.
I have also heard (but not yet personally seen) that
the 2004 region 2 WB and similar 2007 Region 2 Optimum
release may actually be the best version around, and currently
sells pretty cheap on Amazon UK, so if you have
a region free player, you might want to check that out.
US filmmaking, and 'Blow Up' defined 1960s hipness, 'Diva'
defined a certain kind of 1980s European cinema.
That doesn't mean it's great, just seminal. It marked a turning away
from deep psychology, philosophy, politics or even plot, and marked an
emphasis on style, energy, colors, etc. The movie is about being a cool
movie, with cool sets, cool shots, a cool car chase, etc. The plot is
just enough to hold it all together.
All that said, it is great to look at, the chase is fun, and the film
is fun too, in an empty calorie, music video sort of way. It's
frustrating. If the acting was a little better (the leads range from
pretty good to very awkward) and the story had a little more heart and
brains, it could have kept it's grand style, and been a great film, not
just an entertaining, great looking film.
The new Meridian version is disappointingly weak. I actually
prefer my old Anchor Bay copy (I believe the same version
is the hgv edition in Canada), which was itself far from
perfect, but seems to be stronger both visually and aurally.
Read the in depth analysis on DVD Beaver comparing the
Meridian, the Anchor Bay and the Fox Lorber and you'll
get some interesting details on the differences.
I have also heard (but not yet personally seen) that
the 2004 region 2 WB and similar 2007 Region 2 Optimum
release may actually be the best version around, and currently
sells pretty cheap on Amazon UK, so if you have
a region free player, you might want to check that out.
Diva
July 5 2009
Format:DVD
Diva (Widescreen)
One of the best movies from the early 80's. This movie is filled with visual beauty and vivid colors. The story is good and kinda reminds me of the present times with the illegal music downloads (sort of).
It could have done with a better score, but this was the 80's and most movies were riddled with synthesized scores. The singer who plays the Diva has an awesome voice and this movie was my introduction to opera and great classical music.
One of the best movies from the early 80's. This movie is filled with visual beauty and vivid colors. The story is good and kinda reminds me of the present times with the illegal music downloads (sort of).
It could have done with a better score, but this was the 80's and most movies were riddled with synthesized scores. The singer who plays the Diva has an awesome voice and this movie was my introduction to opera and great classical music.
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Most recent customer reviews
My intro to french cinema
I first viewed this movie in the mid-late eighties as a impressionable, idealistic, young man. It was my first real foray into "foreign" film. Read more
Published on Sep 13 2005
As wonderful now as it was then
When I saw DIVA in the theaters, back in 1982, I knew I had witnessed something incredibly special. And for years it had kept a warm spot in my heart and mind. Read more
Published on Jun 14 2004 by Rocco Dormarunno
A Thrilling Visual Poem
Diva is poetically visual as it displays a cinematically stunning experience, which renders one speechless with its sublime cinematography. Read more
Published on Jun 4 2004 by Kim Anehall
cult film - no question about it
Diva is very intriguing with it's two parallel plots. The first time I saw this movie I was a bit confused and to this day I wouldn't know how to properly categorize it. Read more
Published on May 1 2004 by K. Wirsch
I'm one of the few who didn't like the film.
Sorry, but I agree with the fellow who says that this film
is overrated. To those who love it, "I'm happy for you. Read more
is overrated. To those who love it, "I'm happy for you. Read more
Published on Feb 16 2004
super great!
awesome! so many twists and turns and SURPRISES. do not hesitate to watch this. it really is as good as it gets.
Published on Dec 23 2003 by selly b. righteous
Looking for the film
Here it is, 2003, and I still remember this film that I saw in Washington, D.C., in the early 80s. I am still haunted by the opera piece that Ms. Read more
Published on Dec 20 2003
Still a brilliantly stylish updating of Hitchcock
Jean-Jacques Beineix's ultra-stylish adaptation of Delacorta's hip crime novel DIVA remains nearly as exciting twenty years later as it was when it came out. Read more
Published on Nov 5 2003 by Robert Moore
Beware of cheap imitations
"Diva" is one of my very favorite movies -- I distinguish that term from "film." It has a wonderful combination of a suspenseful plot (based on a detective... Read more
Published on Sep 24 2003 by F. Blaha
Who stole the Diva's thunder?
The release of this particular title on DVD was inevitable, and I for one am thankful they did it sooner rather than later. Read more
Published on July 4 2003 by Greekfreak
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