La vérité – The Criterion Collection (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France, 1960
Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot
Writers: Henri-Georges Clouzot, Simone Drieu, Michèle Perrein, Jérôme Géronimi, Christiane Rochefort, Véra Clouzot
Cast: Brigitte Bardot, Paul Meurisse, Charles Vanel, Sami Frey, Marie-José Nat, Jean-Loup Reynold, André Oumansky, Claude Berri, Jacques Perrin, Barbara Sommers

Release Date: February 19th, 2019
Approximate Running Time: 128 Minutes 20 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $39.95

"Beautiful, troubled Dominique Marceau (Brigitte Bardot) came to bohemian Paris to escape the suffocation of provincial life, only to wind up in a courtroom, accused of a terrible crime: the murder of her lover (Sami Frey). As the trial commences and the lawyers begin tangling over Dominique’s fate, Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Oscar-nominated La vérité delves into her past, reconstructing her struggle to find a foothold in the city. What emerges is a nuanced portrait of an impulsive young woman misunderstood and mistreated by those around her, and of her ultimately tragic affair with an up-and-coming conductor." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "This new 4K restoration by Sony Pictures Entertainment in partnership with The Film Foundation and RT Features was undertaken from the 35mm original camera negative and a 35mm fine-grain master positive. Inspection, repair, 4K scanning, and digital image restoration were performed by L'immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, Italy. Conforming, color grading, and additional 4K scanning and image restoration were performed at Deluxe in Culver City, California."

La verité comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.8 GB

Feature: 33.7 GB

The source looks excellent; image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds excellent; dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an archival interview with actor Brigitte Bardot from the 1982 documentary Brigitte Bardot telle qu’elle (19 minutes 44 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), an archival interview from interview from 1960 with director Henri-Georges Clouzot (4 minutes 41 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), an archival documentary about Henri-Georges Clouzot titled Le scandale Clouzot (62 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), and a 12-page booklet with cast & crew information, an essay titled Women on Trial written by Ginette Vincendeau,  and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Henri-Georges Clouzot directed La verité. He is also known for directing Quai des Orfèvres, The Wages of Fear, Diabolique, and Woman in Chains.

A free-spirited young-woman is put on trial, she narrowly survived a suicide attempt after killing her lover.

The narrative's main focal point is whether it was a crime of passion or premeditated. The narrative primarily takes place in two places: inside of the courtroom and in flashbacks that fill in the details about the protagonist and the events leading up to her killing her lover. Though the flashbacks provide critical information about the who and the whys, that is not to say that the courtroom moments are not equally as powerful.

The narrative is well-crafted; it does a superb job when it comes to revealing information about the protagonist. The narrative does an excellent job drawing you in and building momentum, ensuring there are no issues when it comes to pacing. Another strength of the narrative is how effectively it blends courtroom moments with flashbacks.

The main draw of La vérité is Brigitte Bardot (Contempt) in the role of the protagonist, Dominique. Though there are moments in La vérité that play into Brigitte Bardot’s sexy side, her performance, especially the last 25 minutes, is arguably her best. She does a phenomenal job capturing her character's ups and downs, making Dominique's fate all the more tragic. That said, when it comes to the rest of the performances, they all elevate the story that unfolds.

The other creative force behind La vérité is its director, Henri-Georges Clouzot, whose direction is once again exemplary. Throughout his career he had a knack for creating visually arresting moments, and La vérité is overflowing with them. Also, La vérité was a pivotal film for Henri-Georges Clouzot, who would only complete one more film, Woman in Chains. Ultimately, La verité is an extraordinary film that brings together two of French cinema’s most iconic figures.

La vérité gets an exceptional release from The Criterion Collection that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Naughty Girl – Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France, 1956
Director: Michel Boisrond
Writers: Roger Vadim, Michel Boisrond
Cast: Brigitte Bardot, Jean Bretonnière, Françoise Fabian, Raymond Bussières, Mischa Auer, Michel Serrault, Jean Poiret, Jean Lefebvre, Darry Cowl, Bernard Lancret, Marcel Charvey, Lucien Raimbourg, Robert Rollis

Release Date: September 3rd, 2024
Approximate running time: 83 Minutes 47 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"One-of-a-kind screen legend Brigitte Bardot (Contempt) is at her sauciest as the precocious daughter of a Parisian nightclub owner in the colorful and delightful Naughty Girl (1956). The father is accused of forgery and flees the city, entrusting her care to a playboy lounge singer whose life is soon turned upside-down by Bardot’s unforgettable CinemaScope dance routines." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Naughty Girl comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 25.7 GB

Feature: 24.9 GB

Though there is some minor source debris, overall the source is in great shape. Flesh tones look healthy, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is very good, and the image retains an organic look. For the most part, colors look very good; that said, there are a few moments where they are not as strong as they should be.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced; that said, range-wise, things sound very good. It should be noted that songs being sung are not translated.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer for Les Femmes (1 minute 59 seconds, DTS-HD mono French with non-removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with film historian Samm Deighan.

Summary:

Michel Boisrond directed Naughty Girl. He is also known for Come Dance with Me!, The Man Who Was Worth Millions, and Tender Moment.

Gangsters frame Paul Latour, a nightclub owner, for a crime he didn't commit, forcing him to flee the country. Latour entrusts the care of his rambunctious teenage daughter Brigitte with the nightclub headline performer Jean Clery until he is able to clear his name and return home. Will Jean be able to handle Brigitte’s wild ways, or will he be able to tame her?

Though Brigitte Bardot had appeared in 13 films before Naughty Girl, her career didn’t really take off until she began her collaborations with Roger Vadim, who wrote Naughty Girl’s screenplay. Their collaboration began while she was married to Roger Vadim, and they continued to work for another 16 years after they divorced. After their separation, they would make three more films, including her next-to-last film, Don Juan (Or If Don Juan Were a Woman).

Though Naughty Girl has all the elements that one would expect from a romantic comedy, the result is far from a conventional take on this genre. Where more conventional romantic comedies are characters who fall in and out of love, Naughty Girl is a romantic comedy in which one character's love for another goes unnoticed until the finale. That said, it is precisely this character's unrequited love that drives the narrative.

Where Brigitte Bardot’s most celebrated films play up her sexuality, there is only one moment in Naughty Girl that falls into this category. In this scene, Brigitte Bardot, who's wearing a bikini, distracts the gardener, who proceeds to water the pool she's just jumped into. Brigitte Bardot spends most of Naughty Girl looking adorable instead of being a full-blown sexual force of nature.

Brigitte Bardot (Contempt) delivers a captivating performance that overshadows the entire group, performance-wise. For Naughty Girl, she’s given a lot to do when it comes to moments of humor, and her comedic timing is flawless. Jean Bretonnière’s portrayal of the nightclub singer is another performance of note. His character serves as the perfect comedic foil to Brigitte Bardot’s character.

Besides being a romantic comedy, Naughty Girl is filled with musical numbers in which both of its leads shine. As mentioned before, humor plays a significant role in the story that unfolds, with one of the main comedy bits revolving around the nightclub singer trying to hide Brigitte from everyone who visits his apartment. That said, some of the comedy veers into full-on slapstick, notably an absurd finale that erupts into an all-out brawl. Ultimately, Naughty Girl is a highly entertaining farce that's a must see for fans of Brigitte Bardot.

Naughty Girl  gets a strong audio/video presentation from Kino Lorber, and its main extra is an informative audio commentary track, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Two Weeks in September – Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France/UK, 1967
Director: Serge Bourguignon
Writers: Vahé Katcha,Pascal Jardin, Serge Bourguignon
Cast: Brigitte Bardot, Laurent Terzieff, Jean Rochefort, James Robertson, Michael Sarne, Georgina Ward, Carole Lebel, Annie Nicolas, Murray Head

Release Date: September 10th, 2024
Approximate running time: 91 Minutes 47 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Cécile, a fashion model who lives a peaceful life in France with the husband (Jean Rochefort, The Hairdresser’s Husband) she loves. One day, during a photo session in London, she meets the younger Vincent (Laurent Terzieff, Germinal) and becomes his mistress. They fall wildly in love. But when she returns to France, Cécile, torn between two men, is forced into a choice that will change her life forever." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Two Weeks in September comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 28.1 GB

Feature: 27.4 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, black levels are strong, image clarity and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio is in excellent shape; dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer for Les Femmes (1 minute 59 seconds, DTS-HD mono French with non-removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with film historian Adrian Martin.

Summary:

Serge Bourguignon directed Two Weeks in September. He is known for his Academy Award-nominated directorial debut, Sundays and Cybèle.

A woman who’s away from her husband for two weeks has an affair.

A love triangle lies at the heart of Two Weeks in September, with a woman choosing between the stability offered by her husband and the no-strings attachment she has to her lover. There is nothing wrong with her relationship with her husband, and yet she still falls into the arms of another man when away from her husband. Though the choice of where she will finally end up appears to be hers, it's ultimately taken away from her when one of them withdraws.

Despite covering familiar ground, Two Weeks in September is never predictable in its exploration of a character torn between two men. Two Weeks in September is very effective in laying out how her life is different with each of these men; one represents the past, while the other is a possible future. That said, what sets Two Weeks in September apart from other similar films is its ending; it's a bittersweet moment to what is essentially a breezy film.

When you have an actress like Brigitte Bardot (Contempt), all other cast members are secondary. Her onscreen presence is magnetic, and her ability to exude sexuality is unmatched. No matter what she’s saying or doing on screen, she’s mesmerizing. In Two Weeks in September, she portrays Cécile, a woman torn between two men. Though there are secondary characters who interact with Cécile, none of these performances stand out. Laurent Terzieff (in Woman in Chains) and Jean Rochefort (in Symphony for a Massacre) do not go unnoticed in their portrayals of the lover and the husband, respectively.

The soundtrack features a pre-Pink Floyd David Gilmour, whose songs are Do You Want to Marry Me? and I Must Tell You Why. The two songs can be found in the opening sequence and a bar scene when Cécile’s in London. Michel Magne (The Sleeping Car Murder) composed these two songs and the rest of the score.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Two Weeks in September disappoint. The premise is superbly realized, and a well-executed narrative does a phenomenal job building momentum towards a bittersweet finale. The visuals are exemplary; not only are London locations fully exploited, but making Brigitte Bardot’s character a model provides many more stylish moments. Ultimately, Two Weeks in September is a well-crafted drama that succeeds because of its three leads.

Two Weeks in September gets a solid audio/video presentation from Kino Lorber, and its main extra is an informative audio commentary track, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Les Femmes – Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France/Italy, 1969
Director: Jean Aurel
Writers: Jean Aurel, Cécil Saint-Laurent
Cast: Brigitte Bardot, Maurice Ronet, Christina Holme, Anny Duperey, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Tanya Lopert

Release Date: September 17th, 2024
Approximate running time: 87 Minutes 24 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"A womanizing novelist (Maurice Ronet, Elevator to the Gallows) is suffering from writer’s block, and hires Clara (Bardot) as his new secretary and erotic muse. As the writer reveals the most intimate details of the women in his life, he finds himself becoming obsessed with the free-spirited sexuality of his new employee." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Les Femmes comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 27.2 GB

Feature: 26.4 GB

The source is in great shape; it is a marked improvement over Lions Gate’s 2007 DVD release. Image clarity is solid, black levels are strong, compression is very good, and the image retains an organic look. That said, though colors generally look good, there are moments where they do not look right.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced. That said, it is limited range-wise.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 59 seconds, DTS-HD mono French with non-removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with film critic Manuela Lazic.

Summary:

Les Femmes was directed by Jean Aurel, who’s more known for his work as a screenwriter, notably The Hole, Please Not Now, Love on the Run, The Woman Next Door, and Confidentially Yours.

A womanizing author hires a new secretary who is required to fulfill all of his needs.

From its opening moments, it's clear that Les Femmes is a mess; its hodgepodge narrative is nothing more than a series of fantasy moments from the protagonist's imagination. And though its main hook revolves around the protagonist and his new secretary, their interactions amount to less screen time than the fantasy moments. This is a shame, since the moments with the protagonist and his secretary are the strongest.

Les Femmes is worth checking out because of Brigitte Bardot's (Contempt) performance as the secretary. Les Femmes would be easily forgotten without her. Les Femmes emphasize Brigitte Bardot's sexuality. In one scene, she exposes her naked backside. That said, none of the other cast members leave a lasting impression.

Despite a very effective opening setup, things quickly flounder as the narrative relies too heavily on fantasy sequences that do little to enhance the story unfolding. The vibe and look of these fantasy moments make them feel like they could be a completely different film. That said, the most memorable of the moments is a sequence where the protagonist is having a nightmare. Ultimately, Les Femmes is a hard film to recommend; even diehard Brigitte Bardot will find it difficult to enjoy.

Les Femmes gets a strong audio/video presentation from Kino Lorber, and its main extra is an informative audio commentary track.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Please, Not Now! – Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France/Italy, 1961
Director: Roger Vadim
Writers: Roger Vadim, Claude Brulé, Jean Aurel
Cast: Brigitte Bardot, Joséphine James, Mireille Darc, Edith Zetline, Michel Subor, Jacques Riberolles, Claude Brasseur

Release Date: January 2nd, 2024
Approximate running time: 89 Minutes 26 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"When Sophie, a photographer’s model (Bardot), is jilted by her boyfriend (Jacques Riberolles), she becomes convinced she is the victim of a family curse, and takes shotgun in hand to eliminate her romantic rival (Joséphine James). Meanwhile, a young bachelor (Michel Subor) attempts to defuse Sophie’s rage, and win the slightly demented blonde for himself." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Please, Not Now! comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 21.4 GB

Feature: 21.1 GB

The sources look excellent; image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid; and the image looks organic.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, things sound very good.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 57 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles) and an audio commentary with film historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.

Summary:

Directed by Roger Vadim, whose other notable films include And God Created Woman, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Blood and Roses, Barbarella, and Pretty Maids All in a Row. Please, Not Now! would mark Brigitte Bardot’s third of five collaborations with Roger Vadim, her ex-husband. Their other collaborations were And God Created Woman, The Night Heaven Fell, Love on a Pillow, and Don Juan, or If Don Juan Were a Woman.

Barbara, an American, has been having an affair with Sophie's boyfriend Philippe, leaving Sophie heartbroken when she finds out. A chance encounter introduces Sophie to Alain, with whom she quickly builds up a friendship, oblivious to the fact that Alain has fallen in love with her. When she finds out that Philippe is taking his new girlfriend to a ski resort, she convinces Alain to come along and pretend that they are in love. Will Sophie win back Philippe, or will she let the love that is right in front of her slip away?

The opening credits, which feature Sophie driving crazily around Paris, narrowly avoiding and causing a few collisions, perfectly set the tone for what follows. Please, Not Now! is a romantic comedy that has elements that are synonymous with Hollywood screwball comedies. Notably, psychical comedy like throwing a pie in someone's face, blowing up a stove, or moments that are sped up for effect.

The focal point is Brigitte Bardot (Contempt) in the role of Sophie, a scorned woman who refuses to give up on the man who left her for another woman. Though her sex appeal is on full display, it is actually moments of humor where she shines the brightest. Another performance of note is by Michel Subor (Le petit soldat), whose character Alain is the straight man that perfectly complements Brigitte Bardot's ditzy performance.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Please, Not Now! does not excel. The briskly paced narrative ensures there is never a dull moment, and when it comes to humor, it always hits the mark. Roger Vadim’s direction is solid, and though the visuals have some inventive compositions, their ultimate strength is how they let the performances take center stage. Brigitte Bardot's memorable bath tube strip tease, where the image is diffused to cover up her naked flesh.

Roger Vadim’s relationship changed, not only personally but professionally, over the course of the five films he made with Brigitte Bardot. There is no denying the role he played in her career and how the films they made together are arguably her best films. Ultimately, despite being a standard love triangle romantic comedy, the result is a film that is elevated by Brigitte Bardot and Michel Subor’s exceptional performances.

Please, Not Now! gets a first-rate release from Kino Lorber that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and an informative audio commentary, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

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.