Le Mépris, 1963 Re-release

BFI Southbank will be running a retrospective of convention-challenging French-Swiss film director Jean-Luc Godard's work this January, with showings of Le Mépris (1963) re-release as their centrepiece.

A battle of the wills ensues as artistic director Fritz Land, who self-referentially stars as none other than himself, and hard-headed producer (Jack Palance) find themselves at loggerheads on the set of a new adaptation of Homer’s mythical masterpiece, The Odyssey.

Caught in the creative crossfire, screenwriter Paul Javal (Michel Piccoli)’s decision to side with his producer earns the disapproval of his beautiful wife Camille (Brigitte Bardot) and results in a romantic tragedy of love, loss and misunderstanding.

Godard's satirical French drama is nothing short of a landmark of world cinema, listed in Sight & Sound’s 'Greatest Films of All Time' poll in 2012. Its re-release in cinemas nationwide means cinephiles can enjoy this sixties tour de force in all its dramatic glory on the big screen.

Le Mépris will be screening at BFI and cinemas UK wide from 1 January 2016.