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| MISCELANNOUS |
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| Diva (1982) By Ada-Padz |
| Jean Jaques Beineix’s 1981 ‘thriller/mystery’ is an enjoyable genre-defying piece of French Cinema. A slick, catchy piece that holds a time and place in French film. His debut tells the story of a music fan that is besotted with a black Diva, he attends her concert, records her singing then after the show steals her dress. Whilst this is going on the police are after a prostitute who holds the key to something deadly. What follows is a mystery of mistaken identity, exploding Citroen’s, jig-saws and corrupt police men. |
| It’s represented as the ‘very first French post modern film’ but also claimed by critics to ‘have no depth’. Bloody critics eh? It obviously has some appeal as a certain Mr. Cameron seems to have noticed the appeal of a man in black stalking someone in an arcade, very ‘Terminator’ I must say. The acting is places is pretty poor, but some of the characters lighten up the screen. The assassin who “hates” everything is quite amusing and the roller-skating Japanese girl is very likable. |
| There are pop-culture references – A Ms. Monroe look-a-like steps onto a drain covering and her skirt flies into the air, revealing her white panties (I’ve always wanted to say that in a review!) and a typical Hollywood bike chase, except its through the French Metro system. Great stuff. The music is dynamic and dramatic, even dedicated opera haters will begin to appreciate a perfectly sung aria by the finale. The film’s underlying key, and one that is even more important now with the likes of Kazaa and Napster, is re-product ability. The ‘Diva’ doesn’t want her work recorded or released but it has already been copied by Jules, he wants it for his own personal listening pleasure but soon finds himself chased through the red light district of Paris by mobsters. |
| I must admit, I don’t like the ending. It seems a tad rushed and formulaic, I knew what was going to happen… But don’t let that put you off seeing this brilliant French classic. Watch it and then download some Pavarotti. |