Sexy ’60s Tragedy Courtesy of Austin Cinematheque

Maybe it’s an aftereffect of the heat and shoulder-to-shoulder swaying at ACL, but we’re feeling particularly groovy today. The Austin Cinematheque understands, as it’s all peace, love, and Brigitte Bardot in tonight’s screening of Contempt at the Texas Union Theatre.

Okay, so not so much with the peace. Director Jean-Luc Godard takes on the shady world of filmmaking and the lengths one must go through to see an artistic vision through to the bitter end in this French film shot entirely in Italy. Writer Paul Javal (Michel Piccoli) is hard at work on a script based on Homer’s Odyssey when his soulless producer (Jack Palance) attempts to strip his material of all its originality by hiring a pompous, controlling director (Fritz Lang as himself). While Javal fights to save the integrity of his piece, he is too distracted to keep his wife, Camille (Bardot), safe from the advances of his sleazy director. Camille is, in turn, pissed and their marriage suffers.

Contempt gets major points for realism. Martin Scorsese calls it “brilliant, romantic, and genuinely tragic.” He adds, “It’s also one of the greatest films ever made about the actual process of filmmaking.” Literary references abound in the film (including obvious parallels with characters from the Odyssey, Camille = Penelope, etc.). It also contains a magnificent, foreboding score by Georges Delerue. You can hear a track titled “Camille” at Austin Cinematheque’s MySpace page. We won’t lie—we’ve just reloaded the page about ten times and now we are filled with wonder and woe. Woe, we tell you!

Take advantage of this rare opportunity to witness one of the 1960s more unique, sensual screen presences with this restored 35mm print. If the '60s had the likes of such captivating leading ladies as Bardot and Mia Farrow, who do we have now? Angelina Jolie?

The Austin Cinematheque Presents: Contempt
Monday, September 17th
Texas Union Theatre, 2247 Guadalupe St.
7:30pm, FREE
[More Info]