DIVA is a charming French original that combines intrigue, romance and a delirious soundtrack in a visually stunning and stylish debut from Jean-Jacques Beineix. Frederic Andrei stars as Jules, a postal courier obsessed with Cynthia Hawkins (Wilhelmenia Wiggins) an international opera star who refuses to be recorded, much to the dismay of her adoring public. Jules' passion for the opera diva's angelic soprano leads him to smuggle a recorder into a sold-out Parisian performance to commit her voice to tape. He privately enjoys his recording until he shares his secret with a new friend (Thuy An Luu) and simultaneously finds himself at the center of an international drug and sex scandal and a pirating operation that will do anything to get hold of his precious tape. Suddenly Jules becomes engulfed in scandal and must fight to stay one step ahead of the policemen and high-tech hitmen who are chasing him. Dizzying chase scenes are masterfully shot, culminating in a heart-pounding motorcycle chase through the underground Paris Metro. Jean-Jacques Beineix composes each shot like a still photograph, exploring the visual dichotomy between the high-tech disco aesthetic of 1980s Paris and the classic beauty of Cynthia's opera and the ancient city. The brilliant best-selling soundtrack highlights each stylish frame. DIVA is based on the novel by Delacorta.

"Diva" marked the directorial debut of Jean-Jacques Beineix.

Co-produced by Galaxie.

Shown at the Cannes Film Festival (market) May 15, 1981.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Anamorphic 1.66
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - French
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Subtitles - English
Additional Release Materials:
Production Interview - 1. Jean-Jacques Beineix, Director
Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus
Text/Photo Galleries:
Biography - 1. Jean-Jacques Beineix - Director
Additional Products:
Collector's Booklet

Fredric Andrei: 
Wilhelmenia Wiggins: 
Richard Bohringer: French Actor
Thuy An Luu: 
Jacques Fabbri: 
Dominique Pinon: French Actor - "Delicatessen"
Roland Bertin: French Actor

Jean-Jacques Beineix: French Director

Jean-Jacques Beineix: French Director

Charles Gounod: Composer

"...An auspicious debut from a refreshingly original talent..."
3 stars out of 5 -- "After 25 years, these neon-and-mirrorshades visuals have acquired a retro-chic cool."
3 stars out of 5 -- "DIVA kickstarted French cinema in the '80s....A postmodern blend of all-consuming Oedipal love and Hitchcockian crime thriller..."
"[E]verything once new about DIVA seems new again. And the mechanics of Beineix's artistic audacity only become clearer." -- Grade: A