Mépris (Le)

English title: Contempt
Genre: drama
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Release: 1963
Studio: Rome-Paris Films et al. - Strand Releasing et al.
Rating: -
MBiS score: 7.5/10


When in Rome, Do as Godard would Do


If it weren’t for Jeremy Prokosch, Paul Javal and his wife Camille would be enjoying themselves a lot more in the Eternal City. Jeremy wants Paul to rewrite the script for a movie he is producing but Paul can’t make up his mind. Jeremy insists: “You’ll do it because you need the money… and somebody told me you have a beautiful wife.” Paul finally accepts but his decision will soon drive a wedge between himself and Camille. Both of them get caught up in compromising situations and, in a matter of days, the Javal couple hits the skids.

Can such material make for a thrilling, rip-roaring movie? Not really, but it does allow for an interesting psychological study and, since this film is authored by Jean-Luc Godard, a standard-bearer for the French nouvelle vague, it has a personality all its own. Of course, LE MÉPRIS won’t please all, largely due to Godard’s trademark hermeticism, symbolism and whimsy, but it remains one of his more accessible works because of its efficient and appealing cast. You never tire of Michel Piccoli (Paul) because he is a most dangerous actor; serious one minute, utterly zany the next, he pulls off a few memorable moments here as an erratic writer. As for Brigitte Bardot, playing Paul’s insecure wife, she cleverly uses that iconic power she radiated so liberally in her heyday. Jack Palance and celebrated director Fritz Lang also contribute to the success of this Roman riddle.

To dress up his ambivalent story based on an Alberto Moravia novel, Godard fills the screen with abstract visuals, bright colours and striking beauty while managing to voice his trenchant ideas about the medium we call cinema. Behind the scenes, Georges Delerue also pitches in with a remarkable classics-inspired score. The ending, I might add, is startling enough to compensate for slow and slightly bombastic moments early on.

All in all, LE MÉPRIS is not a movie to die for but it will satisfy those who crave for art in moving pictures.

MBiS

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