Brigitte Bardot and Camille Javal in " Le Mepris"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses Jean-Luc Godard's 1963 masterpiece film, "Le Mepris" which is based on the 1954 novel, "Il Disprezzo," translated as "A Ghost at Noon." It specifically compares the attributes of the character, Camille Javal and the actress portraying her, Brigitte Bardot. The paper suggests that the two women seem to be modeled off one another, relying on their sexuality as a means of power.

From the Paper:

"Upon inspection of Godard's Camille, adapted from Moravia's Emilia, and Brigitte Bardot, who portrays Camille in the film, the two women seem to be almost one and the same. Both act and speak in a manner that speaks of their lower-class background. Motivated to advance in financial, social, and professional fields, the women make use of the one attribute that will quickly and effectively help them to reach the top: their sexuality. Camille employs her feminine wiles to manipulate her husband, until sensing that he has nothing further to offer her, she casts him aside. Similarly, Bardot cultivated for herself a "sex kitten" image, by feigning youthful innocence, simultaneously playing up her womanliness."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Le Mepris. Dir. Jean-Luc Godard. DVD. The Criterion Collection, 1963.
• "Le Mepris." Internet Movie Database. 13 Dec. 2006 <http://imdb.com/title/tt0057345/>.
• Austin, Guy. Stars in Modern French Film. London: Arnold, 2003.
• Brown, Royal S., ed. Focus on Godard. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1972.
• Cameron, Ian, ed. The Films of Jean-Luc Godard. New York: Praeger, 1969. 54- 60.

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