Bardot, la Méprise

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                     Bardot in 1968

Viewed at Arlequin Cinema, Paris. in documentary package.

Bardot, La Méprise”– Dir. David Teboul. 114′ RT. made for TV is 

a study of the actress’s entire life, childhood, family, etc. As well as the highlights of her career with numerous extracts from key films such as “And God Created Woman”. (Et Dieu créa la femme), 1956.

Bardot does not appear herself but her voice over comments are suppplied by actress Bulle Ogier and the director was given full access to the records and people of her private life. 

A truly rounded portrait one of the central sex godesses of the century. The title is a takeoff on a famous Bardot film, Le Mépris, 1963, which means “contempt” — Mr. Teboul”s title, La Méprise, changes gender and means “The misunderstood”, implying that there are many misapprehensions surrounding BB — which this film will will clear up — and some of my own definitely were!  All in all an Xlnt piece of work.

Among famous Bardot contemporaries  who appear in the film:

Jean Cocteau, 

Henri-Georges Clouzot

Sami Frey

Jean-Louis Trintignant

Serge Gainsbourg

Roger Vadim

Jean-luc Godard,

-- in archival footage, and actress Bulle Ogier, live -- a veritable Who's Who of important French film figures of the mid-century. Bardot retired from the screen in 1973 at age 39 and became a strong advocate of animal rights and supporter of the political right, notably, Marine Le Pen, current leader of the French Front National.

During her career in show business, Bardot  starred in 47 films, performed in several musical shows and recorded over 60 songs.  After her retirement from film she established herself as an animal rights activist. During the 1990s, she generated controversy by criticizing immigration and Islam in France and has been fined five times for "inciting racial hatred".