Context
- What is an Auteur? -
An Auteur (literally translates to 'Author' in English) is a person whose individual style and complete control over a project create a recognizable and distinct feel. Auteur directors generally have a distinctive style from film to film and often fill other roles besides directing including: writing, editing, and sometimes acting in their own films.
WHAT IS AUTEUR THEORY?
The Auteur theory is the theory that suggests that how the overseer of a production is considered the 'author' of a film.
Auteur theory was created by the french critic and director Francois Truffaut when he wrote the 1954 essay 'Une Certainetendance Du Cinema Francais' (A certain trend in french cinema) . The written essay highlights the contrast between a director and an auteur while also arguing the idea that the most successful filmmakers are the ones who play an active role in creating the film with a distinct style.
Who is my Auteur?
Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor and is widely considered one of the most influential filmmakers in film history. Some of his most influential works include: Mean Streets (1973), Taxi driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990), The Wolf of Wallstreet (2013) and one of his most recent, and regarded as his most ambitious film, The Irishman (2019).
Scorsese has mentioned his mentors being filmmakers such as John Cassavetes (A Woman Under the Influence, 1974), Roger Corman (Little shop of horrors, 1960) , and Michael Powell (Black Narcissus, 1947)
In 2012, Scorsese participated in Sight&Sound's film poll of that year. Held every decade it is a poll to accumulate a list of the top then best films ever. Contemporary directors were asked to give their list and Scorsese put forward his top twelve favourite films (in alphabetical order):
2001: A Space Odyssey, Stanley Kubrick (USA/UK,1968)
8½, dir. Fedrico Fellini (Italy, 1963)
Ashes and Diamonds, dir. Andrzej Wajda (Poland, 1958)
Citizen Kane, dir. Orson Welles(USA, 1941)
The Leopard, dir. Lunchino Visconti (Italy, 1963)
Paisà, dir. Roberto Rossellini(Italy, 1946)
The Red Shoes, dir. Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger (UK, 1948)
The River, dir. Jean Renior (USA, 1951)
Salvatore Giuliano, dir.Francesco Rosi (Italy, 1962)
The Searchers, dir. John Ford (USA, 1956)
Ugetsu, dir. Kenji Mizoguchi (Japan, 1953)
Vertigo, dir. Alfred Hitchcock (USA, 1958)
Why did i chose Martin scorsese?
I chose Martin Scorsese because I have always found his films encapsulating and emotionally driven. His films are more than just violent mafia epics with beautiful women and crime but carry the strong themes of what it means to be family and the importance of remembering your routes.
Take Goodfellas (1990) for example. Arguably the most famous line from the film is a voiceover from Henry saying "As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a gangster." Consider how key this is to the entire film. Being part of the mafia wasn't just about the flashy suits for Henry. It was about belonging to a family. It was about being bigger than what you thought was set out for you. It's about achieving more than you ever thought was possible. That is what is key about a Scorsese flick. Not just the beauty and aesthetic of his mise en scene but about the emotional weight that carries every scene. That is why I chose scorsese.