Betty Blue (1986)

Sex and sunlight are on ample display in Betty Blue, director Jean-Jacques Beineix's passionate look at mad love. (Every French director is contractually required to make at least one movie about l'amour fou.) It begins at the seashore, where handyman and failed novelist Zorg (Jean-Hugues Anglade) has his life electrified by Betty, a woman whose sense of abandon frequently tips over into the pathological. This was the role that introduced gap-toothed, voluptuous Beatrice Dalle to the world, and neither Dalle nor the world has ever quite recovered. Traces of Beineix's preciousDiva are still present, though this is a darker and more memorable ride, especially in the three-hour "version integrale" that restores an hour of footage. Its copious nude scenes are a drawing card, but stick around for the age-old alchemy of life translated into art. Gabriel Yared's score is a favorite of movie-soundtrack mavens, especially its haunting piano theme. --Robert Horton Amazon.com

Very particular

This movie catch my attention long ago, dont know whyexactly, its diferent romantic and disturbing May 29, 2008

Don't Forget The Music!

I respect all of the reviews on this movie, which has to be one of my all time favorite foreign films. I cannot add anything that the other reviewers have not mentioned, other than the fact that this movie had the most haunting and wonderful musical score. The film came out at a time where not much was known about bi-polar disorder or depression, so to watch the film in 2008 will leave you with a much different feeling than if you had seen it during the 80's. But the haunting simple sax music will make the same indentation on your heart now, as if you had first heard it back in 1986. I had to buy the cassette tape in Paris years ago because I could not find the music anywhere in the U.S. Wherever you have to search, if you have seen and loved the film, you will love the soundtrack even more! January 21, 2008

Betty goes Batty on the Beach.

"I had known Betty for a week. We made love every night. The forecast was for storms."

Betty has issues. She trashes rooms, steals cars, stabs a restaurant patron with a fork, and kidnaps a small child. And she's good in bed. Based on the 1985 novel by Philippe Djian, Jean-Jacques Beineix's Betty Blue (37°2 le matin) tells the story of Betty (Béatrice Dalle) and Zorg (Jean-Hugues Anglade), two lovers who live in a shack on the beach before moving to the city. When the film begins, they are in the very passionate stage of their new relationship. Zorg works as a handyman, painting shacks along the beach. Betty is an unpredictable, out-of-work waitress who dreams of a better life for them. After finding his unpublished novel, Betty realizes Zorg is a literary genius. Soon it becomes clear that Betty is mentally ill, and her relationship with Zorg develops into a truly crazy love (characterized by obsession, violence, and aggression). Running nearly three hours in length, the film allows viewers to feel the couple's pain. Equally dark and comic, Betty Blue is ultimately the story of Zorg's love and loss. Jean-Jacques Beineix is also known for his electrifying cult classic, Diva.

G. Merritt January 11, 2008

korean import sadly heavely censored

Do not buy the korean import it is heavely censored. It does not show any pubic areas of which there are many scenes & it is a long movie dull movie with the censorship. January 8, 2008

Great Movie....

First, I saw this movie in the late 80s. The version was 117 mins in lenght. This version is 3 hrs. It is a quirky little movie that is both drama and comedy,and very enjoyable, unlike most French fare I have viewed.BE WARNED!!! This film was obviously released by a Korean Company for a Korean audience, as although it is intact, it is heavily censored. I found that to be mildly distracting and somewhat disappointing. Had I known that this movie was censored I probably wouldn't have bought it as I'm not an advocate for censorship. It really doesn't take anything away from the overall movie, just some of the visual aspects, but you'll at least get the idea. Essensially, the lower part of Betty's and Zorg's anatomy has been whited out. As I said, I found it Mildly distracting, but didn't feel it detracted from the overall movie. The explicit adult content is there, but due to the censoring, you really won't see anything. I gave it Four Stars due to the over all quality of the film. Charlie S.... Richmond Va. November 17, 2007

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