Le mépris (Contempt): 60th Anniversary Restoration – Studio Canal (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: France/Italy, 1963
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Writer: Jean-Luc Godard
Cast: Brigitte Bardot, Michel Piccoli, Jack Palance, Giorgia Moll, Fritz Lang, Raoul Coutard, Jean-Luc Godard, Linda Veras

Release Date: June 26th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 103 Minutes 52 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: DTS-HD Mono French, DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD Mono German
Subtitles: English, French SDH, German
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region B (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: £19.99 (UK)

"Set around the extraordinary Villa Malaparte on Capri, LE MÉPRIS tells the tragic romance between Paul and his wife, Camille. Paul is enlisted the task of re-writing a film script. Whilst he becomes engrossed in writing, he appears oblivious to the film producer’s interest in his irresistibly beautiful wife, Camille. In turn, we witness the hurtful unfolding of Paul & Camille’s marriage." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5 (4K UHD), 3.5/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "A new 4K restoration."

Le mépris (Contempt) comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 65.2 GB

Feature: 54.5 GB

Le mépris (Contempt) comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.5 GB

Feature: 31.5 GB

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Audio: 5/5 (DTS-HD Mono French), 4.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with three audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in French, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and a DTS-HD mono mix in German. For this review, I only listened to the French and English language tracks. It should be noted that the French-language track has some dialog in English. Also, when watching with the English language track around the 51-minute mark, there are a few dialog exchanges that are in French; most likely, no English was ever recorded for these moments. There is a removable English subtitle track for these moments of French dialog. Quality-wise, the French and English-language tracks are comparable. Both of these tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, and the range-wise ambient sounds and the score are well represented. That said, the French-language track sounds more robust than the English-language track. Included are removable English subtitles for the French language track and removable French SDH and German subtitles.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include an introduction writer and film producer Colin Maccabe (5 minutes 31 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a short film directed by Jacques Rozier titled Paparazzi (22 minutes 28 seconds, LPCM mono French with removable English subtitles), and a short film directed by Jacques Rozier titled Bardot Godard: The Patry of Things (10 minutes 32 seconds, LPCM mono French with removable English subtitles).

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), an introduction writer and film producer Colin Maccabe (5 minutes 31 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a short film directed by Jacques Rozier titled Paparazzi (22 minutes 28 seconds, LPCM mono French with removable English subtitles), a short film directed by Jacques Rozier titled Bardot Godard: The Patry of Things (10 minutes 32 seconds, LPCM mono French with removable English subtitles), and an archival documentary titled Once Upon a Time There was... Contempt (52 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles). 

Other extras include a slipcover.

Summary:

Directed by Jean-Luc Godard, a filmmaker who was part of the French new wave. Though his career spanned the longest of any of his French new wave contemporaries, he directed his first film in 1960 and his last film in 2018. He is most remembered for the films that he directed between 1960 and 1967. Notable films he directed are Breathless, Band of Outsiders, and Weekend.

The narrative revolves around a husband named Paul, who works as a screenwriter, and his wife, Camille, whose marriage is put to the test when a film producer seduces Camille. Instead of intervening, Paul turns a blind eye to the producer's advances on Camille, which causes her contempt for Paul.

Having seen all of Jean-Luc Godard’s peak period, 1960–1967, and about a half dozen of his more adventurous films when he went full on avant-garde, it is safe to say that Le mépris (Contempt) is his most mainstream film. And nowhere is clearer than in its opening moments with Brigitte Bardot’s naked backside; this scene was imposed by American producer Joseph E. Levine. At that time, Brigitte Bardot was one of French cinema’s best-known actresses, and her films often exploited her sexuality.

One of the themes that runs throughout Le mépris (Contempt) is the creative process involved in filmmaking and the power struggle that often ensues between directors and the money people. And though there were moments in Le mépris (Contempt) where Jean-Luc Godard gave into his producer's demands, that is not to say that his own unique cinematic style is not evident throughout. That said, Jean-Luc Godard's films are always filled with interesting ways to do things cinematically. Notable is the aforementioned opening scene with Brigitte Bardot’s naked backside and a creditless opening sequence in which the credits for those involved in the making of Le mépris (Contempt) are spoken.

When it comes to the performances, there are three characters and the actors or actresses who portray them that have any weight. They are Brigitte Bardot (And God Created Woman) in the role of Camille, the wife; Michel Piccoli (Belle de Jour) in the role of Paul, the husband/screenwriter; and Jack Palance (Marquis de Sade: Justine) in the role of Jeremy Prokosch, the producer. These three performances are pitch-perfect.

The main themes explored in Le mépris (contempt) are betrayal, jealousy, infidelity, and contempt. And these themes are further accentuated by the way Jean-Luc Godard juxtaposes the growing divide between Paul and Camille. With a phenomenal ending that perfectly encapsulates the events that led up to it.

From a production standpoint, Jean-Luc Godard was a filmmaker who was clicking on all cylinders. He makes an engrossing cinematic experience that connects with you emotionally, which, in the hands of a more conventional filmmaker, is a routine story about a marriage coming apart. Other strengths are cinematographer Raoul Coutard's striking use of colors and composer Georges Delerue’s fabulous score; these two elements do a great job reinforcing the mood. His music cue, titled Theme de Camille, was later used in Martin Scorsese’s Casino. Ultimately, Le Mépris (Contempt) is an extraordinary cinematic experience that is arguably one of the greatest films ever made.

Studio Canal gives Le mépris (Contempt) its best home video release to date, recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a VLC player and lossless PNGs.

4K UHD screenshots.