“Betty Blue – 37.2° in the Morning” is one of the most brilliant and saddest love stories in European cinema. The film by Jean-Jacques Beineix (“Diva”) based on the global success of the writer Philippe Djian is set in a holiday resort in the French coastal town of Gruissan.
When the quiet craftsman Zorg (Jean-Hugues Anglade) meets Betty (Béatrice Dalle), his life is turned upside down. She is beautiful, spirited and passionate. Zorg can’t help but fall in love and Betty feels the same way. But Betty suffers from borderline personality disorder and her impulsive behavior causes Zorg to lose his job one day.
From then on they start looking for a place where they can live and work. They end up in a whirlwind of odd jobs, desolation and sexual attraction. However, when Betty learns that she is not expecting again, Zorg has to watch helplessly as she loses more and more control.
For Béatrice Dalle, the role of Betty was her first film role ever. She received widespread praise for her passionate performance and became an icon of French cinema almost overnight. The film caused controversy in its time because of its explicit sex scenes and its raw depiction of psychological instability. There is also an edited version with a few scenes that have been shortened for more sensitive viewers. The Director’s Cut lasts a total of three hours.
“Betty Blue – 37.2° in the Morning” was nominated for the best foreign language Oscar in 1987 and is still considered a cult film.