Italianamerican

Italianamerican sees director Martin Scorsese turn his lens onto his parents, Catherine and Charles. Hearing them, you’ll immediately understand the roots of the unique tone, vocal rhythm and folksy wit of Scorsese films like Mean Streets and Raging Bull.

Seated on their plastic-covered couch, these children of Italian immigrants talk about their youth, surviving on the streets of New York, their Sicilian roots, and their interactions with Irish and Jewish neighbors. While Scorsese’s mother prepares her famous meatball sauce, the couple lovingly bicker and interrupt each other in their thick New York accents.

Seated at the table, the director impatiently puts questions to his parents as he picks at the cucumber salad. It all feels authentic and intimate, just like Taxi Driver, the box office hit Scorsese filmed a year later with a small crew. Italianamerican is a tribute to his parents, but also a character study that echoes on through his film work, which often revolves around Italian-American characters.