Review for Betty Blue

Jean-Jacques Beineix's Betty Blue is one of the sexiest and most complex films that I have ever seen and certainly one of the most influential French films ever made. Considering its very sexual content it is surprising that it has been so universally accepted across the globe even going so far as to be nominated for the Best Foreign Film at the Oscars, Golden Globes and BAFTA. The film turned Beatrice Dalle into a cinematic icon and if you have never seen the movie, when you look at the cover you will have known someone who had that iconic poster on their wall.

Zorg, (Jean-Hughes Anglade) a handy man, meets and falls in love with the beautiful Betty (played by Dalle). Their romance is intensely passionate, fuelled by Betty's volatile nature and her desire for more. Discovering Zorg's writing she declares that it is genius and convinces him to quit his job and accompany her in her attempts to get him published and to continue writing. This leads to scenes of writer's block, heartbreak, violence and general insanity as Betty's becomes more violent to everyone around her, including herself, which leads to a sad ending for all involved.

It is very easy (especially when you see the opening scene), to view this as just another arthouse sex film. The kind of film that uses nudity as a draw and forgets that you have to build a story around it. This film is stunningly brilliant in every way. It is a perfect look at the emotional breakdown of a character and although it's never really explained what is wrong with Betty (we can presume she is bipolar or something similar) anyone who has witnessed this in real life will state how accurate a portrayal it is. For me, it is more surprising that Dalle was not nominated for her performance (beyond the Cesar Award she was nominated for) and it is difficult to understand why that is. The performances around her, particularly by Anglade work well around her and you can see the inner struggle that he has in dealing with Betty.

The composition of the film is perfect, made even more so in the HD Blu-ray transfer. The wonderful lighting and colours, particularly in the early scenes are luxurious and the soundtrack by Gabriel Yared is much magical. It is not surprising that Yared went on to score other films, winning for The English Patient. What is surprising is how little of any note Beineix did after this film, or even Dalle for that matter.

On the Blu-ray you have the option to watch the Theatrical or Director's Cut. Usually when companies do this I say that I can't tell the difference, but its hard not to spot almost an extra hour of footage placed within the film. At times the Director's Cut is better as it does explain more things about Betty's condition and the length of time helps you see the gradual decline. However, I would say the Theatrical Cut is better due to the pacing. There are some scenes that I feel are not needed and though I understand the inclusion of them they do slow the film down. I do agree that both versions are great and certainly worthwhile watching and if you are a fan of the original and have never seen it then it is a great feature. I would say that maybe they should have included a featurette or an extra explaining which scenes were new and the reasons for them being cut, which according to everyone appears to be due to time.

The lack of a commentary is a shame, but this is made up for with a new documentary about the making of the film. All the main people are interviewed and though well made it didn't really tell me anything I would want to know and really is just for those who may want to know the real ins and outs to the making of the film. The Screen Tests of Beatrice Dalle are interesting, but again should have had some kind of context along with them, or a commentary maybe by Dalle herself.

Betty Blue is a perfect Blu-ray that you should own if you like French Cinema or indeed any cinema. It is a classic film that does not date and in fact feels like it could have been made and released this year. Including both versions is a nice element and depending on your preference you will surely find one of them entertaining, but for fans of the film itself it is a great tribute to one of the most iconic films in not just French Cinema history, but cinema history itself.