Love, Lust, and Liquor: Riding the Emotional Rollercoaster of “Betty Blue”
The joys of youthful despair are deliciously contradictory. You gamble with life like you’ve got nothing to lose, diving headfirst into love, dreams, and the occasional foolish decision with the bravado of the invincible. Yet, you’re constantly terrified — of everything and nothing, all at once. This is the magic of youth: you’re as carefree as you are cautious, making every heartbeat a thrilling ride. It’s a wild, glorious time when every triumph is a high and every misstep is a drama, but honestly, you wouldn’t have it any other way.
In “Betty Blue” (37°2 le matin),1986, Jean-Jacques Beineix dishes up a visually sumptuous and emotionally volatile young love story that’s part fireworks show, part psychological drama. Adapted from Philippe Djian’s novel, the film doesn’t just capture the essence of a passionate romance; it immerses you in it with the subtlety of a sledgehammer.
Out of all the Cinema du Look films, “Betty Blue” has dated the least. Time has been kind to it, the visual style is rich and earthy but naturalistic. It is immensely stylized but also uses that style subtly in the service of the actors. This is a film that foregrounds character, the look in the service of the action. It is a delicate balancing act and one, for the most part, that works harmoniously.
Right from the start, we’re thrown into the deep end with Betty and Zorg, whose first on-screen moment together is a ferociously intimate love scene. It’s clear these two aren’t just dipping their toes into the waters of romance; they’re performing cannonballs. As the camera moves slowly into the pair, Zorg states in the voice-over: “I had known Betty for a week. We had sex every night. The forecast was for storms.” Jean-Hugues Anglade’s Zorg is the eye of that storm, oddly tranquil amidst the chaos, while Béatrice Dalle’s Betty is the tempest herself, sweeping through each scene with a magnetic — and alarming! — presence.
The film’s palette is an assault of colors, mirroring the tumult of the protagonists’ lives. Each hue in Beineix’s visual feast seems to be competing for attention, much like our leads, from the serene blues of the seaside shack to the volatile reds and oranges that backdrop their Parisian escapades.
Betty and Zorg, it seems, navigate their days with the help of copious amounts of alcohol, which fuels both passionate reconciliations and spectacular blow-ups. One can’t help but muse that a gentler intoxicant might benefit these lovers, tempering their highs and lows with a touch of THC clarity. Indeed, viewing this film might be best paired with a side of sativa, offering a buffer of calm to withstand the emotional whirlwind.
As the narrative unfolds, we’re treated to the spectacle of Betty’s unwavering belief in Zorg’s unrecognized literary genius. Her faith is both touching and tragic, propelling them from the simplicity of beachside life into the complexities of the Parisian literary world. Here, each rejection of Zorg’s manuscript by publishers twists the knife in Betty’s already fragile psyche, illustrating her descent from fierce advocate to a woman on the brink.
The soundtrack, a quirky yet poignant mix, serves less as a background score and more as a series of emotional cues, accentuating the film’s dramatic arcs with eclectic precision.
“Betty Blue” is a film of grand gestures and grander emotions. It’s a full-throated declaration of love and madness, painted in strokes bold and broad. For those who dive into its depths, it promises a ride that’s as dizzying as it is dazzling. Do bring along that herbal relief; you’ll need it to keep pace with Betty and Zorg’s relentless intensity. This isn’t just a film to be watched; it’s to be survived and savored, a testament to the fiery trials of love and the beauty of going a bit mad together. In Beineix’s world, moderation is for the meek, but a little bit might not be the worst advice for those about to press play.
This is still the ne plus ultra of eighties French cinema. Like catching up with an old girlfriend or boyfriend, you can see the flaws now, and it may be a bittersweet experience but one still worthy of your time.