The gun
What does Paul have in his mind with the gun? How can Camille empty the bullets?
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Paul was unmanned by Camille. Thus his gun has no bullets.
MovieChat Forums > Le mépris (1964) Discussion > The gun
Furthermore, it's another of the film's many scewerings of mainstream film conventions. In this case: "if there's a shot fired in the third act, you better preview it in the first."
But it is interesting to contemplate what Paul might've had in mind . . .
I think he reveals his intentions in his interpretation of The Odyssey, which is pretty much an explanation of his relationship with Camille. He explains that Ulysses left Camille with the suitors because he considers her faithful, but realizes she resents him for it, just as Paul leaves Camille with Jerry. He goes on to say Ulysses had no choice but to kill the suitors, so I would guess he was planning on killing Jerry Prokosh. Fritz says death is no resolution and later Paul agrees with Lang's interpretation of the Odyssey so maybe that represents a change in his outlook towards his relationship with Jerry and Camille.
shareThere is also a scene when the couple are in their apartment where Paul is reading the Roman book given to him by Prokosh. He recites something to Camille along the lines of... "if my wife is unfaithful and I kill her I have lost my love. If I kill my wifes lover then she hates me and again I have no love. Death cannot be the answer"
shareI thought it was a subtle aversion of the Chekhovs Gun. The trope is if a gun is introduced, it has to be fired. A gun is introduced in the film, but it is never fired, due largely to Paul's impotence and his retreat into passiveness. Camille's fate is left to chance, which was not in her favour.
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