Contempt

A talented but calculating screenwriter who accepts Prokosch’s offer to elevate his status and secure wealth. He often opts for convenience over confrontation, revealing a willingness to trade relationships for professional gain. His passivity in critical moments highlights how far he will go to please the powers behind the project.

Paul’s wife, who grows suspicious of her husband’s loyalties and is drawn to independence. She asserts her own will, ultimately choosing to leave Capri with Prokosch, signaling a personal break from Paul. Her actions reveal the emotional cost of professional machinations.

A vulgar, powerful American producer who leverages Camille’s vulnerability to press his film agenda. He embodies the cash-driven side of the movie business and uses charisma to manipulate others. His presence accelerates the moral compromise at the film’s core.

Austrian director known for his cinematic vision, constrained by language and the constraints of collaboration with the American producer. He embodies artistic integrity pushed against commercial demands, often clashing with Prokosch over interpretation. His involvement heightens the film’s exploration of art versus commerce.

Acting as the interpreter and mediator on set, she navigates between Lang and Prokosch, shaping conversations and outcomes. Her position gives her unusual leverage, making her central to the set’s diplomacy and miscommunications. Her role reflects how language and translation influence creative decisions.

The on-set assistant director who translates and mediates between the major players, often commenting on filmmaking and the conflict. His presence underscores the film’s self-awareness about cinema as a process. He helps maintain the production’s fragile balance amid tensions.

The cinematographer responsible for the visual look of the production, capturing the on-location tension and the studio scenes. His work frames the drama, turning conflicts into images. He represents the technical craft behind the art-house production.

A small but pivotal role that embodies allure and danger on Capri’s beaches, and also mirrors the film’s themes of temptation and consequence. Her presence intensifies Camille’s envy and the film’s moral stakes.