Friday, August 24, 2018

Contempt. Le Mépris (1963): Jean-Luc Godard and Brigitte Bardot


     With vibrant hues, breathtaking vistas and visionary direction, Jean-Luc Godard's Contempt or Le Mépris (1963is a moving work of cinematic art. The concept of a film within a film was innovative and intriguing, with the main characters making a film about Homer's Odyssey... while simultaneously personifying Odysseus, Penelope and Poseidon themselves. The casting of Brigitte Bardot was a conscious and insisted decision on the part of the producers, who felt she would boost ticket sales at the box office. Both as a tongue-in-cheek joke, and to appease the execs, Godard featured Brigitte Bardot in a series of intentionally gratuitous scenes. The entire cast is wonderful, including Jack Palance, Michel Piccoli, Giorgia Moll... and iconic German director Fritz Lang, who plays himself.
     The lives of writer Paul Javal (Michel Piccoli) and his wife Camille (Brigitte Bardot) are complacent... 

Contempt. Le Mepris. 1963. Jean-Luc Godard: Brigitte Bardot

     American producer Jeremy Prokosch (Jack Palace) hires Paul to re-write the script for his film version of Homer's Odyssey being directed by Fritz Lang (who plays himself).... 

Contempt. Le Mepris. 1963. Jean-Luc Godard: Fritz Lang

     Prokosch slyly offers Camille a ride in his fancy car, and a large enough span of time elapses to place suspicion in Paul's mind that the two had an affair... 

Contempt. Le Mepris. 1963. Jean-Luc Godard: Brigitte Bardot

     Paul begins to question his love for Camille as well as his faith in his own artistic abilities... and she begins to show disdain for him as well...

Contempt. Le Mepris. 1963. Jean-Luc Godard: Brigitte Bardot

    as life imitates art... 

Contempt. Le Mepris. 1963. Jean-Luc Godard: Brigitte Bardot

     in tragic and sensuous form...

Contempt. Le Mepris. 1963. Jean-Luc Godard: Brigitte Bardot

Contempt. Le Mepris. 1963. Jean-Luc Godard: Brigitte Bardot