CONTEMPT ("Le Mépris", 1963)

Talk is cheap; movies are expensive. Ciné-Club is back for 2026, and we're kicking off the new year by revisiting one of the late Brigitte Bardot's most iconic films (and one of Godard's most cynical)! Join us as we dig deep into a story of communication breakdown in relationships both romantic and professional (and the dubious places where the two meet)...

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CONTEMPT ("Le Mépris", 1963)
Dir. by Jean-Luc Godard
Available to rent on Amazon Prime. Also streaming for free with ads on Tubi, or on Kanopy and the Criterion Channel.

Paul's having some trouble getting his new project sorted out. The French playwright has just been hired by an American film producer to rework the script for Fritz Lang's latest cinematic epic - a fresh adaptation ofThe Odyssey - and finds himself embroiled in a tangle of conflicting artistic interpretations and financial interests. What's more, the politics of production are starting to affect his romantic life. His wife Camille is not exactly thrilled to be spending all their time as a couple in business meetings, and she's not too keen about the unsubtle way Paul is using her as arm-candy, either. As communication starts to break down between husband and wife, deep-seated questions about the stability of their relationship will arise. Do they really love each other? Have they ever been capable of talking to each other without talking past each other? And is this stupid movie ever going to get made?

Simmering with both eros and barely-contained resentment, Le Mépris stages bitter relationship drama as a Cinemascope epic, resulting in a scathing commentary on art, commerce, and relationships feels uniquely modern yet as ancient as the seaside landscapes that provide the film with its luscious, unforgettable setting. Let's talk about it!

*As a reminder, this is solely a movie discussion group - we encourage you to watch the film independently prior to coming to the meetings.