- published: 24 Sep 2013
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Contempt (released in the UK as French: Le Mépris) is a 1963 French satirical drama film written and directed by Jean-Luc Godard, based on the Italian novel Il disprezzo ("A Ghost at Noon") by Alberto Moravia. It stars Brigitte Bardot, Michel Piccoli, Jack Palance, and Giorgia Moll.
Today, Contempt is generally regarded as a masterpiece of world cinema.
American film producer Jeremy Prokosch (Jack Palance) hires respected Austrian director Fritz Lang (playing himself) to direct a film adaptation of Homer's Odyssey. Dissatisfied with Lang's treatment of the material as an art film, Prokosch hires Paul Javal (Michel Piccoli), a novelist and playwright, to rework the script. The conflict between artistic expression and commercial opportunity parallels Paul's sudden estrangement from his wife Camille Javal (Brigitte Bardot), who becomes aloof with Paul after he leaves her alone with Prokosch, a millionaire playboy.
While founded on Alberto Moravia's story of the progressive estrangement between a husband and wife, Godard's version also contains deliberate parallels with aspects of his own life: while Paul, Camille, and Prokosch correspond to Ulysses, Penelope, and Poseidon, respectively, they also correspond in some ways with Godard, his wife Anna Karina (his choice of female lead), and Joseph E. Levine, the film's distributor. At one point Bardot dons a black wig, which gives her a resemblance to Karina. Michel Piccoli also bears some resemblance to Brigitte Bardot's ex-husband, the filmmaker Roger Vadim.
(1963) - Le Mépris
Le mepris (1963)
Le Mépris (Jean Luc Godard, 1963) Opening Scene
Probably the greatest french movie trailer ever - Contempt (1963)
Le mépris (1963) - Intro
Luis Aller presenta LE MEPRIS de Jean-Luc Godard
Brigitte Bardot sur le tournage du film Le Mépris (1963)
Le Mépris (1963) - Jean-Luc Godard - Ralenti
"Le Mépris" - Camille Thème, "Contempt" | Georges Delerue (1/7)
Le Mépris de Jean-Luc Godard
Before my eyes - lies
nothing but lies
I cannot believe the scenes
taking place beneath our skies
It makes me wanna do my time
in a song or on the silver-screen
humanity is the biggest cancer
ever to be seen
Before my eyes - lies
civiliesation
ancient and wicked
destruction in creation
No matter how low you are
there's always someone to look down upon
and it goes
on and on
Emotionless - obscene
but a human life don't mean
anything to me