Blu-ray, Digital Release: Diva

Digital, Blu-ray Release Date: Aug. 11, 2020
Price: Blu-ray $19.99
Studio: Kino Lorber

Director Jean-Jacques Beineix (Betty Blue) launched the Eighties’ “Cinéma du look” movement with 1981’s Diva, the stylish cult thriller that remains as innovative today as when it premiered nearly forty years ago.

Jules (Frédéric Andréi), a young postal carrier, illegally tapes a concert of a reclusive opera singer (American soprano Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez). Jules’ attempts to woo the diva are interrupted when Taiwanese bootleggers come after the recording. His problems worsen when a prostitute slips another tape, one that incriminates a police chief, into his bag. Now, Jules must escape the police chief, the cop’s henchmen and the bootleggers to keep both precious tapes safe—and to stay alive.

Featuring a celebrated chase through the Paris Metro and an early appearance by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amélie) favorite Dominique Pinon (The Return of Martin Guerre), Diva earned César Awards for Beineix, Vladimir Cosma’s (Le Bal) music and Philippe Rousselot’s (Beautiful Creatures) cinematography.

A quick aside: I had the opportunity to interview Mssr. Beineix several years back when Cinema Libre was issuing a collection of his documentaries, and he particularly chatty–and caustic. Here’s an excerpt:

LL: Why do you think so many of your later films—the documentaries—have not been available in the U.S. before?

Beineix: If I knew, I would give you an explanation about the dysfunction of this business.

LL: You’ve always been outspoken about the film industry.

Beineix: A little too much, probably. The price of talking too much is very high. In the background, they stab you and retaliate for being an outlaw.

LL: Diva and Betty Blue played well in the U.S., but the docs and your TV work weren’t made easily available to U.S. audiences.

Beineix: : Yes, that is strange to me. Betty Blue and Diva were huge successes and distributors should figure out that audiences may be interested in watching the other films. It’s a strange system sometimes. But these films show I can do other things and I don’t necessarily have to reprise the same thing all the time.

Anyway, Kino Lorber’s new editions of Diva offer an extensive bonus package, which includes the following:

-NEW Audio Commentary by Film Critic and Author Simon Abrams
-Scene Specific Audio Commentary by Director Jean-Jacques Beineix
-Introduction by Professor Phil Powrie (Author of JEAN-JACQUES BEINEIX) and Eric Grinda (6:20)
-Interview with Composer Vladimir Cosma (10:47)
-Interview with Casting Director Dominique Besnehard (7:20)
-Interview with Star Frédéric Andréi (5:46)
-Interview with Actors Anny Romand and Dominique Pinon (12:02)
-Interview with Actor Richard Bohringer (6:53)
-HOLDING GROUND with Director Jean-Jacques Beineix (11:00)_IN THE CAFÉ with Director Jean-Jacques Beineix (8:30)
-Interview with Cinematographer Philippe Rousselot (6:04)
-Interview with Set Designer Hilton McConnico (6:50)
-Theatrical Trailer
-Dual-Layered BD50 Disc
-In French with Optional English Subtitles