Diva (1981)
-
96% of critics liked it
(45 reviews) -
86% of users liked it
(6,046 ratings)
The diva of the title is a famous black opera singer (Wilhelmina Wiggins-Fernandez) who steadfastly refuses to be recorded. The singer is idolized by young French mail-carrier Jules (Frederic Andrei), who sneaks a tape recorder into the theater and records her performance. This is witnessed by a… More The diva of the title is a famous black opera singer (Wilhelmina Wiggins-Fernandez) who steadfastly refuses to be recorded. The singer is idolized by young French mail-carrier Jules (Frederic Andrei), who sneaks a tape recorder into the theater and records her performance. This is witnessed by a pair of Taiwanese criminals, who unlike Andrei wish to profit from the bootlegged recording. They begin to pursue the boy, as do a couple of home-grown hooligans who believe that Jules is in possession of some murder evidence. The serpentine plot leads to a warm friendship between Jules and the reclusive diva - and to a brilliantly photographed (by Philipe Rousselot) motorcycle chase through the subway tunnels of Paris. Diva marked the directorial debut of Jean-Jacques Beineix, whose obvious fondness for the more esoteric techniques of the Nouvelle Vague never impedes his willingness to simply entertain his audiences. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jean-Jacques Beineix
- Written By
- Jean-Jacques Beineix
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense
R,
- In Theaters
- Mar 11, 1981 Wide
- Studio
- Rialto Pictures
Critic Reviews
-
Sid Smith, Chicago Tribune
The movie's a maelstrom of possibilities touching ethnic relations, high art, fashion and modern morality, not to mention cinema.
-
Ty Burr, Boston Globe
As with so many pop moments a quarter-century on, what once looked sexy now smells a little sexist.
-
Philip Kennicott, Washington Post
Diva, as a lifestyle, a fantasy, a model for alienation and solipsism and eccentricity, has gone deep into all of us.
-
David Fear, Time Out New York
An elaborate, subtitled exercise in blowing hot air.
-
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
A light-headed, fleet-footed French caper, Jean-Jacques Beineix's ultra-stylish Diva stormed the art houses when it was released in 1982, and it's still a lot of fun now -- though its hip patina feels more quaint these days than cool.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
Also available on
UltraViolet Retailers
Other Retailers
Not Available
Not Available
Subscription Services
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Cast
-
Frédéric Andréi
as Jules
-
Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez
as Cynthia Hawkins
-
Richard Bohringer
as Gorodish
-
Thuy An Luu
as Alba
-
Dominique Pinon
as Le Curé, Le Curé, Le Cur?
-
Jacques Fabbri
as Jean Saporta
-
Roland Bertin
as Weinstadt
-
Anny Romand
as Paula
-
Gérard Darmon
as Spic I'Antillais
- Raymond Aquilon
- Nathalie Dalyan
-
Chantal Deruaz
as Nadia
- Etienne Draber
-
Patrick Floersheim
as Zapotek
- Nane Germon
- Brigitte Lahaie
-
Jean-Jacques Moreau
as Krantz
- Jean-Luc Porraz
- Bernard Robin
- Jean-Louis Vitrac
- Eugène Berthier
- Laure Duthilleul
- Gabriel Gobin
- Isabelle Mergault
- Thuy Ann Luu
- Yann Roussel
