Some days ago, the world mourned an eternal icon: Brigitte Bardot, a symbol of freedom, sensuality, and rebellion whose influence transcends generations. Known for redefining beauty and independence, Bardot’s legacy also extends behind the scenes, where the magic of cinema meets the intimate gaze of photographers who captured her unguarded humanity. This short commemorative piece centers on a remarkable backstage photograph—an intimate intersection of Bardot, the director’s legacy, and the artistry of a photographer who understood the pulse of the Dolce Vita era.
In this article, I would like to describe the history of a photograph taken in 2017 in Rome and to pay tribute to the grande icon of international cinema, Brigitte Bardot. Here in this timeless backstage photo from years ago at Dolce Vita Gallery, during Roberto Strano’s workshop, I’m standing right beside the Divine BB herself. Roberto Strano is a professional photographer based in Caltagirone, Italy, whose work and travels span Italy and abroad. He specializes in documentary photography with a strong focus on social issues and serves as a photography instructor across multiple courses. Since the 1990s, he has conducted extensive research, earning international recognitions and collaborating with leading studios in Sicily, Rome, and Naples. Strano has documented ambitious projects from high-profile shoots in Rome to award-winning studies and exhibitions across Europe and the Middle East.
The image features Bardot on the set of Jean-Luc Godard’s Le Désordre (Il Disprezzo) in 1963, with portions of the film shot in Rome and Tuscany. This backstage moment—captured by Geppetti—places Bardot in a quiet, contemplative frame, her presence both intimate and monumental against the machinery of cinema. The setting, the wardrobe, and the composition together speak to a film era where collaborations across cultures produced enduring cinematic moments. The gallery display, now a memory, reminds us of the fragile life of curated histories and the importance of preserving such artifacts for future generations.
Marcello Geppetti stands among the pantheon of photographers who shaped the visual memory of the Dolce Vita era. Renowned for his ability to fuse candid backstage realism with the glamour of film sets, Geppetti chronicled moments when stars breathed outside their public personas. His images reveal not just the allure of a famous face, but the texture of a time when cinema felt like a shared dream. The photograph that follows—described to us by Geppetti’s son—offers a window into his method: patient observation, precise framing, and a respect for the moment as it unfolds rather than as it is posed.
Brigitte Bardot remains a luminous emblem of an era’s audacity. Her presence on screen and off-screen challenged conventions, weaving a narrative of sensuality with empathy, wit, and a fierce advocacy that endured beyond her filmography. This photo situates Bardot not merely as the subject of an iconic shot, but as a living force on a movie set—the “Divine BB” whose charisma could illuminate a room and embolden the crew to bring a scene to life. Bardot’s influence extended beyond fashion and film; she activated conversations about freedom of expression and compassion for animals, shaping a cultural archetype that persists today.
Brigitte Bardot’s memory endures in the many faces of cinema she inspired, from the frame-by-frame energy of her early roles to the quiet, almost personal portraits captured by photographers like Marcello Geppetti. As we remember Bardot, we also celebrate the images that translate her essence into memory—photos that allow us to feel the awe of those moments and to reflect on the collaborations that made them possible. She remains, for a generation and many to come, a muse of emancipation, artistry, and unyielding individuality.
Special thanks to the son of Marcello, Marco Geppetti
Written by Joanna Longawa
Photo credits: Marcello Geppetti and Roberto Strano
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