Diva

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Diva
Moviedrome Introduction



Film Details

Release Date: 1981

Director: Jean-Jacques Beineix

Stars:
Frédéric Andréi as Jules
Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez as Cynthia Hawkins

Plot Summary: 
Diva is a 1981 French neo-noir thriller film directed by Jean-Jacques Beineix in his directorial debut. It stars Frédéric Andréi as Jules, a young postman who becomes obsessed with the American opera singer Cynthia Hawkins (Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez), who has never allowed her singing to be recorded. Jules secretly records Hawkins singing at a recital, and his recording quickly becomes the target of a variety of criminals and corrupt officials who are all desperate to get their hands on it.

Diva is a stylish and visually stunning film, with Beineix making use of neon lights, nightclubs, and other aspects of Parisian nightlife to create a unique and atmospheric world. The film is also notable for its use of music, with Beineix featuring several operatic arias throughout the film.

Personal History

Never even heard of it, let alone seen it.  I am more aware of the directors other film, Betty Blue.

Current Review

Didn't get a lot from it really. Seemed more like a pop video than a structured film and definitely an "Art Film". The visuals are the best thing about it really. That, and scenes showing how to spread butter onto a baguette.

The story goes off at tangents - a postman getting tapes mixed up - one, a performance by an opera singer and another, a tape of a prostitute's testament against Parisian criminals. What follows is a lot of motorbike chases through Paris. The gangsters look ridiculous.

90 minutes of this fella gurning
 
The music is 50% caterwauling from an opera singer and 50% early 80s techno.  Both hurt the ears.

Quirky Facts

  • Diva" is often credited with influencing the style of French cinema in the 1980s. It was a pioneering film in the Cinéma du look movement, which emphasized style and aesthetics in filmmaking. This style went on to influence other French directors and films of that era.
  • Other examples of Cinema Du Look - Betty Blue is the only one you will have heard off.

Sustenance

The cooking started 24 hours earlier.  Beef shin, marinating in red wine, shallots, garlic and herbs in a sandwich box filling the bottom shelf of the beer fridge.

Beef Bourguignon was the eventual aim and pretty easy to cook, when you include the tip on blanching shallots in boiling water to remove the skin.  Combined with mash and green beans.

A french wine seemed the most suitable drink, having not got myself to Morrisons for La Goudale beer.

Mrs M a fan of this fruity merlot, a Grande Nuit.

Some nonsense about being harvested at night

Future Inspiration 

None really.


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