MovieChat Forums > Le mépris (1964) Discussion > A few questions.

A few questions.

posted 18 years ago by messin18
1 reply | jump to latest

Just rented this from netflix.

What i really took away from the film is "misunderstanding". I think this is highlighted by all of the translation between multiple languages dureing the entire film and also the husbands inabilty to understand what his wife needs / wants.

A few questions i have though. Why does the wife really need to die at the end? Don't see the purpose in it. Also i really don't understand the husband. Why does he bring a gun? Why does he let his wife go with the guy a second time? And why does he smack the secretary on the butt?

[–] JonathanPuntervold 18 years ago

-Why does the wife really need to die at the end?
She was totally in Paul's hands from the very beginning - a woman who, sadly enough, would do anything her husband told her. But in letting her go with Prokosch in the beginning of the film, he let her go from him: He killed her, you might say, in giving her away to Prokosch.

-Why does he bring a gun?
... Well, we don't really know his intentions, but I see it as merely as sign of emotional desperation.

-Why does he let his wife go with the guy a second time?
At that time he knows that he has lost her. But, as you say, much of it is really a misunderstanding, though I do think that there are greaters motives for Camille to leave him.

And why does he smack the secretary on the butt?
He's just a flirtatious guy I'd say, typical frenchman!

Forever Godard.