CLASSIC: Satyajit Ray’s film ‘Pather Panchali’ (about a young boy in impoverished rural West Bengal) was nominated for an Oscar award, the film is considered an all-time Indian classic.

By Arvind Pinto

In the forthcoming 52nd edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) scheduled in Goa from November 20-28, 2021 the maker/director of the American film `Godfather’ Martin Scorsese will be honored. Ironically, as a coincidence, Satyajit Ray from West Bengal, will be given lifetime achievement award.

THE 52nd edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) scheduled to be held in Goa from the Novevember 20 to 28 will see the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Award tiven to two great film directors little known to the film public in India! This is probably due to the fact of the pervasive dominance of Bollywood — given their catchy songs and dances, that Hollywood or world cinema has little impact on Indian audiences, except a dedicated coterie of film buffs.
But for the few who take time to watch, appreciate and understand universal cinematic trends, these two greats are indeed renown in the celluloid world. Of the two Martin Scorsese is probably heard of in India. Let’s look at some of the films to understand their impact on cinematic culture to appreciate the homage that is being paid to them
The 78 years old Martin Scorsese is of Italian origin, he was was born in Queens, a suburb of New York City, and was raised in the locality named “Little Italy.” This locality in all probability served as major inspiration for his films. During his studies at New York Film University, Martin Scorsese made his first feature film “Who’s That Knocking at my Door,” as also several prize-winning short films like “The Big Shave.” He started as an assistant director and editor of films and won laurels early in his career for “Mean Streets” (1973, the story of a small-time hood who tries to keep the peace between Johnny, his friend, and his creditors.
One of the more acclaimed Martin Scorsese movie is “Gangs of New York” (2003). Here the acclaimed director recreates for his many fans mid-19th century gangster warfare between settlers and neo-immigrants. Leonardo DiCaprio plays the role of Amsterdam Vallon who returns to Five Points district of Manhattan to avenge the death of his father at the hands of “Bill, The Butcher.” Amsterdam however finds a father in the man he must kill. The film is a recreation of 19th century New York and the gang wars that ruled the city.
Martin Scorsese has several memorable movies to his credit. “The Last Temptation of Christ” looks at Jesus Christ and his life and times as he journeys through struggles and his final temptation on the cross. I remember having seen this movie with Willem Dafoe who plays the role of Jesus while Barbara Hershey plays the role of Mary Magdalene who tempted Jesus. The movie does bring out dramatically the temptations that Jesus had to overcome during his life on earth. Interestingly, the film is not based on Gospel texts but on Nikos Kazantzakis’ novel of the same name.

VIOLENCE PORTRAYAL

ANOTHER film that is considered a classic is “Taxi Driver.” As the name suggests, this film traces the story of a Vietnam war veteran, who takes to driving a taxi on the streets of New York. Travis, the taxi driver, is played by Robert De Niro, who superbly plays the part of a New York-hardened taxi driver dealing with drunkards, muggers and prostitutes. There is violence in plenty with Travis buying handguns and shooting his way through the brothel to meet Iris, his girlfriend. The film trails off, with Travis once again meeting his first love Betsy whom he drives home, without taking money from her when she opens her purse to pay him. The film leaves you with a graphic description of crime and squalor in the ‘60s in America.
Another film of the same genre is “Mean Streets,” a crime thriller, the story of Charlie, an Italian American who feels responsible for his young friend Johnny Boy, the latter being a small-time gambler who does not work but owes money to several loan sharks. Charlie, in the meanwhile, carries on with a secret affair with Teresa, Johnny’s cousin. The film explores the conflicts within Charlie when his Catholic moral values clash with his undercover work for the mafia. The film won the critic’s award for best supporting actor.
This renowned director is regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers of our current era. Italian by origin and the influences that he was brought up in, his oeuvre explores themes such as the Italian-American identity, the Catholic concepts of guilt, salvation, redemption and questions of faith. True to his Italian origin, the films depict machismo at its best, violence and the liberal use of foul language. There are liberated scenes of sexual play, but these have been realistically woven into the plot. Scorsese plots are indeed dramatic, while their realism makes viewers relive the stories he details on screen.
Martin Scorsese has a distinctive directorial style. In his films he blends diegetic sounds, that is sounds that the characters on the screen hear, with non-diegetic sounds, such as music in the film, to make for a realistic blend. His films have a realism that we do not see in many of our local Indian movies. Scorsese films are meticulously planned and characters come alive on the sets. Even the dialogues have a realism of their own, words and phrases of the period to which the film belongs.
Scorsese films are not merely commercial ventures, but have an artistic quality that raises them above the run of the mills Hollywood movies. With Martin Scorsese being presented with an award at this year’s upcoming IFFI, many of his films will also be screened. Do not miss this chance of seeing his films! Each Martin Scorsese film lingers in the mind’s eye long afterwards. This is the greatness of an American director, a legend in his lifetime!