RECOMMENDED: [ cognitive dissonance ] movie night III : Le Mépris (1963) by Jean-Luc Godard / 🎞️ 🇫🇷 🇨🇭
A French writer's marriage deteriorates while working on Fritz Lang's version of The Odyssey, as his wife accuses him of using her to court a favor.
A philistine in the art film business, Jeremy Prokosch (Jack Palance) is a producer unhappy with the work of his director. Prokosch has hired Fritz Lang (as himself) to direct an adaptation of "The Odyssey," but when it seems that the legendary filmmaker is making a picture destined to bomb at the box office, he brings in a screenwriter (Michel Piccoli) to energize the script. The professional intersects with the personal when a rift develops between the writer and his wife (Brigitte Bardot).
„Famously, producer Carlo Ponti was disappointed that Jean-Luc Godard’s adaptation of the Alberto Moravia’s novel A Ghost at Noon contained no nude shots of star Brigitte Bardot. With typical perversity, Godard compromised by adding an explicit scene of Camille (Bardot) naked on a bed as screenwriter-husband Paul (Michel Piccoli) lists her attractive features. The anecdote is appropriate for a film that features an American film producer (Jack Palance) exerting his crass influence over the Grecian epic being made by German genius Fritz Lang (playing himself).” - bfi.org.uk/film
DIRECTOR:
Jean-Luc Godard was a French and Swiss film director, screenwriter, and film critic. He rose to prominence as a pioneer of the French New Wave film movement of the 1960s, alongside such filmmakers as François Truffaut, Agnès Varda, Éric Rohmer and Jacques Demy.
Shot at Punta Massullo, on the island of Capri, Casa Malaparte (est. 1937, architect Adalberto Libera) the house is the setting for the film Contempt. Capri became touristy eversince and often serves as a instagram selfie background for the masses.
SUMMARY I.: by Historic Lens Stories
In 1963, Brigitte Bardot starred in Contempt (Le Mépris), directed by legendary French New Wave auteur Jean-Luc Godard. This visually arresting film, shot in vibrant Cinemascope, is now considered a cinematic masterpiece. Bardot, already an international sensation by the early 1960s, brought both vulnerability and mystique to her role as Camille, a woman caught between love, betrayal, and disillusionment. Filmed in part on location in Rome and the breathtaking island of Capri, Contempt was a significant departure from Bardot's earlier lighthearted roles, showcasing her depth as a dramatic actress. The film blends art-house sensibilities with star power, and Bardot’s presence elevated its global appeal.
The early 1960s marked a crucial turning point in European cinema, and Contempt was at the heart of it. Jean-Luc Godard, a leading voice of the French New Wave, used Bardot not just as a glamorous icon but as a symbol of modern womanhood and fractured relationships in a changing world. The film also featured acclaimed actors Michel Piccoli and Jack Palance, with legendary German director Fritz Lang appearing as himself. Released in 1963, Contempt reflected the tensions between commercial filmmaking and artistic integrity—both within its narrative and its real-life production. Bardot’s iconic scenes, including those filmed in a minimalist Capri villa overlooking the sea, have become enduring images of 1960s European cinema.
Brigitte Bardot, at the peak of her fame, was more than a style icon—she was a muse for directors, artists, and musicians across the globe. By 1963, she had become a defining figure of modern femininity, influencing fashion, film, and popular culture. Contempt not only highlighted her acting range but also cemented her legacy in film history. Today, the movie is celebrated for its layered storytelling, Godard’s signature style, and Bardot’s unforgettable screen presence during a transformative era in cinematic and cultural history.
SUMMARY II.:
Emotionally charged, sublimely shot and starring one of cinema’s most iconic female sex symbols, Brigitte Bardot, Jean-Luc Godard’s 1963 New Wave masterpiece Le Mépris epitomises 1960s style, modernity and glamour. This landmark of world cinema is re-released in cinemas UK-wide on 1 January 2016 and will also be the centrepiece of BFI Southbank’s major retrospective of the director’s work, which runs until 16 March 2016. It’s also one of the highlights in StudioCanal’s five-disc Blu-ray collection being released on 25 January, which also comprises Breathless, Pierrot Le Fou, Alphaville and Une Femme est Une Femme, and a host of special extras
More Bold! More Brazen! And Much, Much More Bardot!
Caught in the crossfire of a creative battle between an artistic director (Fritz Lang playing himself) and a hard-headed American producer Jeremy Prokosh (Jack Palance), screenwriter Paul Javal (Michel Piccoli) finds himself embroiled in a battle of wills on the set of a new adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey. Siding with the producer, Paul’s decision-making incurs the displeasure of his wife, Camille (Brigitte Bardot) and their disintegrating marriage is revealed as she regards him with increasing contempt… - whattowatch.com
SCENES FROM THE MOVIE / CUT-OUTS: bluscreens.net
Illustration: wexarts.org