Contempt (Le Mépris) is a 1963 French-Italian drama film directed by Jean-Luc Godard and starring Brigitte Bardot, Michel Piccoli, Jack Palance, and Fritz Lang. The film tells the story of a disintegrating marriage between screenwriter Paul (Piccoli) and his wife Camille (Bardot), as they both navigate the treacherous waters of the film industry.
Paul is initially excited to work on a modern adaptation of "The Odyssey" with pro-American producer Jeremy Prokosch (Palance) and legendary director Fritz Lang. However, tensions begin to mount as Prokosch meddles in the production and starts to micromanage Lang's creative choices. Paul is caught in the middle, forced to balance his loyalty to Lang with his obligation to keep the producer happy.
As the film begins to unravel, Paul's stress at work spills over into his personal life with Camille. He becomes increasingly distant and dismissive, leading to a series of bitter arguments and mistrust. Camille, feeling neglected and disrespected, begins to question why she ever married Paul in the first place.
Throughout the film, Godard weaves in meditations on the nature of art and the role of the artist in a capitalist society. He employs several visually striking techniques, such as the use of bold primary colors and a haunting score by Georges Delerue, to create a dreamlike atmosphere.
Contempt has been hailed as a masterpiece of the French New Wave, and its themes continue to resonate with modern audiences grappling with questions of creativity, commercialism, and personal identity.