"Contempt" Godard's most beautiful and heartbreaking love story

Contempt Synopsis

Writer Paul is asked to revise the script for a film directed by Fritz Lang. While he accepts the request to save his life and that of his beloved wife Camille, the producer who asked Paul to revise the script is interested in Camille. Then suddenly, Camille's attitude and behavior change from the day before when they whispered love to each other. Paul questions her, but is unable to get to the heart of the matter. With an uneasy atmosphere, they visit the filming location on the island of Capri, and the decisive moment arrives.

"Contempt" (1963) is one of the masterpieces of the French master Jean-Luc Godard, who sadly passed away last year. A 4K restored version commemorating the 60th anniversary of the film's production was screened at this year's Cannes Film Festival Classics, but this latest version, which corrects the film's defects, will finally be released in theaters in Japan. Personally, I'm happy about this.

The beauty of the images shot in the scenic Italian landscape is certainly appealing. But that is not all that makes this film so appealing. Paul (Michel Piccoli), a writer who takes on a job writing screenplays to make a living, is despised by his beautiful wife Camille (Brigitte Bardot) after he takes a servile attitude towards American producer Jeremy (Jack Palance), and the love that was surely there between them falls apart in an instant... This is a story that is hopelessly sad. It is also a sad love story, which is rare for Godard.

"Contempt" Trailer

I first saw this film during a revival screening in the 1990s, and was completely overwhelmed by the sight that filled the CinemaScope screen. It was a different cinematic experience from Godard's masterpieces such as Breathless (1960) and Pierrot the Fool Fou (1965). In this article, I would like to examine what it was.

Index

• Hollywood movie producers are unpleasant people!
• The sadness of a useless man who has lost his sense of self
• Godard's film philosophy engraved with homage to the master
• Be enthralled by the beauty of the images brought to life in 4K and the flowing music

Hollywood movie producers are unpleasant people!

First of all, Contempt was the first film that Godard approached commercial film in terms of production structure. Although he approached it, he did not lose the basic stance of the Nouvelle Vague of being faithful to his own vision, but it was at least the first time that he cast a major star of the time in the lead role. The heroine was Brigitte Bardot, who had reigned as a sex symbol in France since her breakthrough in Les Fouilles (1956). Her fee for appearing in the film, in which she lies down completely naked, is said to have amounted to half of the production budget of the film.

"Contempt 60th Anniversary 4K Restored Edition" © 1963 STUDIOCANAL - Compagnia Cinematografica Champion SPA - Tous Droits reserved

One of the producers of this film was an American named Joseph E. Levin, and this was the first and last time Godard worked with a Hollywood filmmaker. Levin wanted Bardot to have a nude scene in order to sell the film to the global market. Godard, who was critical of commercial films, accepted this request, but avoided provocative depictions and did not have her interact with a male actor. Furthermore, he projected Levin's character onto the character of Jeremy, portraying him as an unlikable man with a male chauvinist mindset.

Palance, who played Jeremy, was a great supporting actor who played villainous roles in Hollywood at the time, and had already achieved fame in the United States, having been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for " Shane " (1953). However, Palance was not satisfied with that, and actively continued to appear in low-budget European films to further his career. He later won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for " City Slickers " (1991), which could be seen as a sign of respect from filmmakers for his long career and attitude as an actor.

The sadness of a useless man who has lost his sense of self