Betty Blue (1986) – A Passionate, Turbulent Portrait of Love and Madness
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Jean-Jacques Beineix
Starring: Béatrice Dalle, Jean-Hugues Anglade
Betty Blue (37°2 le matin) is a raw, emotionally charged French drama that dives deep into the beauty and destructiveness of obsessive love. Directed by Jean-Jacques Beineix and adapted from the novel by Philippe Djian, the film is both visually striking and psychologically intense.
The story follows Zorg (Jean-Hugues Anglade), a laid-back aspiring writer working as a handyman, whose life is upended when he falls for the impulsive and stunning Betty (Béatrice Dalle, in a breakout role). Their romance burns fast and bright—fueled by passion, spontaneity, and a shared dream of a better life. But as Betty becomes increasingly unstable, their love story begins to spiral into darkness.
The film is celebrated for its atmospheric cinematography, expressive color palette, and unforgettable score by Gabriel Yared. Dalle brings fierce magnetism and tragic vulnerability to Betty, making her both captivating and heartbreaking. Her character represents the thrilling highs and devastating lows of loving someone on the edge.
While Betty Blue begins as an erotic, free-spirited romance, it subtly evolves into a haunting study of mental illness and the limits of devotion. The film does not shy away from emotional extremes, making it both poetic and painful.
Nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, Betty Blue has become a cult favorite, remembered for its intensity, sensuality, and tragic beauty. It’s a film about the euphoria of love—and the chaos that can follow when that love is too wild to be contained.
