Le Mempris (Contempt) is a film directed by Jean-Luc Godard based on the novel Il disprezzo (A Ghost at Noon) by Alberto Moravia.
The film is about a married couple, Paul Javal and Camille
Javal, and their struggles and negotiation with an American film producer, Jeremy Prokosch who
would like to produce a film adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey. He first hires
respected Austrian director Fritz Lang but he was not satisfied with Lang’s
interpretation of the film. So, Prokosch decided to hire Javal instead but he
is having second thoughts on whether he should accept the deal because he was
thinking about the money and expression which led his relationship with his
wife, Camille to lie low.
As a part of our class last Wednesday, our professor let us
watch this movie and it is undeiable that the whole class enjoyed it. Everyone
was so into the film, so quiet and so engaged in following the flow of the
married couple’s life and problems.
Cinematography and editing wise, I noticed that the scenes in
the movie were all so long that it took 20 minutes or more per scene in just
one location. Continuity in the camera shots and angle were also highly
noticeable that sometimes, I got bored watching it. Specially the scene of Paul
and Camille arguing then making up in their apartment. I think it composed
almost half the running time of the film.
Our professor asked us if Camille Javal really love her
husband, Paul Javal. In my own opinion, I think that she really did love him it’s
just that she fell out of love right when Paul started being so busy and flirted
with another girl. Camille is the kind of woman who is very beautiful and
charismatic that he could get any man she wants. Guess I wasn’t so wrong
because she even got away with the playboy millionaire Prokosch which led to
the death of both of them. Camille is also a fame and money whore and for me,
her sudden death is just her karma.
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