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Martin Scorsese, an Academy Award-winning filmmaker, has directed over twenty feature films, including The Last Temptation of Christ, which is available through the Criterion Collection. He is also the founder of the nonprofit Film Foundation and the World Cinema Project, which is dedicated to preserving and promoting significant films from around the globe. A special box set featuring World Cinema Project titles can also be found on Criterion.
1. Paisan
Roberto Rossellini
Martin Scorsese, an Academy Award-winning filmmaker, has directed more than twenty feature films, including The Last Temptation of Christ, available through the Criterion Collection. He founded the Film Foundation and the World Cinema Project, which are dedicated to preserving and promoting important global films. A box set of World Cinema Project titles is also available from Criterion.
2. The Red Shoes
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
Martin Scorsese, an Academy Award-winning filmmaker, has praised The Red Shoes as one of the greatest films ever made, offering new layers of meaning with each viewing. He highlights its stunning Technicolor visuals, especially the magical scene of Moira Shearer floating up the steps to Anton Walbrook’s villa. Scorsese admires the film’s portrayal of art’s obsessive power and transcendent nature, making it a visually striking and deeply significant exploration of artistic passion.
3. The River
Jean Renoir
The years after World War II marked a transformative era in global cinema, where filmmakers grappled with the aftermath of war and its impact on human life. Instead of avoiding harsh realities, these directors sought beauty and meaning in the midst of suffering. Key films from this period include Rossellini’s The Flowers of St. Francis and Europa ’51, alongside Visconti and De Sica’s neorealist works. Mizoguchi’s Ugetsu, Kurosawa’s Ikiru and Seven Samurai, and Wyler’s The Best Years of Our Lives are also significant contributions. Among these is Jean Renoir’s The River, his first color film, which explores the rhythms of life, focusing on themes of birth, death, and the fleeting beauty of existence.
4. Ugetsu
Kenji Mizoguchi
Mizoguchi is celebrated as one of cinema’s greatest filmmakers, alongside icons like Renoir, Murnau, and Ford. Post-WWII, he created three masterpieces: The Life of Oharu, Ugetsu, and Sansho the Bailiff. His brilliance lies in crafting profound simplicity, confronting the audience with life’s mysterious, tragic, and ultimately peaceful nature. While many of his films are impactful, Ugetsu stands out. Iconic scenes, such as the boat emerging from the mist, Genjuro’s collapse in Lady Wakasa’s embrace, and the poignant final shot of the son praying at his mother’s grave, continually evoke awe and wonder.
5. Ashes and Diamonds
Andrzej Wajda
I first watched Ashes and Diamonds in 1961, and even then, when cinema was already astonishing us, it made a lasting impression. The film’s haunting, immediate style, its portrayal of political chaos on the brink of peace, and Zbigniew Cybulski’s captivating performance all add to its power. It feels almost like a hallucination; certain images from the film still flash in my mind with the same intensity they did over fifty years ago.
I’ve had the privilege of meeting Andrzej Wajda several times and have always admired his boundless energy and unwavering vision. Although he seemed weaker when I saw him a few years ago, his vitality was undeniable. He was working on a new film about Lech Walesa, the final part of his trilogy, which began with Man of Marble and Man of Iron. Wajda remains an inspiring figure for all filmmakers.
6. L’avventura
Michelangelo Antonioni
L’avventura is a film that has been extensively analyzed over the years, but there’s always something new to discover with each viewing, especially when seen in different contexts. For those who haven’t yet experienced it, I highly recommend watching it now.
Often labeled as a story about characters who are “alienated” from their surroundings, this term can sometimes oversimplify the depth of the film. Instead, I view it as a profound exploration of individuals in spiritual crisis. Their internal struggles shape their perception of the world, making it appear cold and unwelcoming. Visually, sensually, and dramatically, it stands as a true masterpiece of cinema.
7. Salvatore Giuliano
Francesco Rosi
Francesco Rosi’s Salvatore Giuliano is a compelling film that delves into the events surrounding the assassination of the Sicilian bandit Salvatore Giuliano. Although Giuliano isn’t the central character, the film revolves around him, shifting between varied time periods and perspectives. It provides a profound look into Sicily and the corruption that its people have endured.
More than just a historical investigation—Rosi even uncovered new details about the case—the film is full of emotion and vitality. Captured in striking black-and-white by acclaimed cinematographer Gianni Di Venanzo, Salvatore Giuliano is also a heartfelt tribute to Sicily, a place of deep personal significance for Rosi and his family.
8. 8½
Federico Fellini
After La Dolce Vita, everyone wondered what Federico Fellini would do next—would he try to surpass himself or take a new direction? What he did was unexpected. He turned his own experiences as a filmmaker—having made eight and a half films and feeling the weight of international success—into a movie. The result was 8½, a film close to my heart for its creativity, freedom, and emotional depth.
The black-and-white cinematography, shot by Gianni Di Venanzo, is breathtaking, with each frame glowing like a pearl. 8½ is more than just visually stunning; it captures the artist’s struggle with fame, criticism, and the pressure to create. Marcello Mastroianni’s portrayal of Guido perfectly embodies these challenges. This film has influenced many others, including Alex in Wonderland, Stardust Memories, and All That Jazz. Like The Red Shoes, I revisit 8½ every year, and it always offers a new perspective on the artist’s journey.
9. Contempt
Jean-Luc Godard
I used to view Godard and Antonioni as the great modern visual artists of cinema, masters of color and composition, framing scenes like painters crafting canvases. I still see them that way, but now I connect with their films on a deeper level. Contempt is, for me, one of the most powerful films of its time.
When it was released, the focus was on its star-studded cast—Brigitte Bardot, Michel Piccoli, and Jack Palance, with Fritz Lang playing himself in a film by Jean-Luc Godard. Over time, however, the film’s background details have faded while its emotional core has only grown stronger. Contempt is a heartbreaking portrayal of a marriage falling apart, and its impact is profound. The famous scene between Piccoli and Bardot captures their relationship’s slow unraveling in a way that feels painfully real, even knowing that Godard’s marriage was ending during filming.
The film also marks the end of an era in cinema, symbolized by Lang’s doomed attempt to adapt The Odyssey. Contempt is a haunting reflection on lost love and the decline of cinema, making it one of the most powerful and unsettling films ever made.
10. The Leopard
Luchino Visconti
The Leopard is a cinematic masterpiece set in Sicily, rich with reflections on eternity and history, beautifully shot in color and on 70mm film. Luchino Visconti adapted the film from Count Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s novel, which follows a Sicilian prince during Italy’s unification or Risorgimento. The prince realizes his way of life is fading and decides to make way for younger, more ambitious figures, like his nephew Tancredi.
Visconti and his writers transformed Lampedusa’s novel into an epic, but unlike traditional epics, time is the true protagonist in The Leopard. It explores cosmic time, the slow passage of Sicilian time, and the steady rhythm of aristocratic life, where things happen as they always have. The film’s landscapes, settings, costumes, and rituals enhance our understanding of time and the sweeping changes in the story. The film culminates in an hour-long ball sequence, where, through the prince’s eyes, we witness the end of an entire way of life—one Visconti knew well.
Initially, the film was overshadowed by Burt Lancaster’s casting as the prince, especially in the U.S., where a shortened and dubbed version was released. It felt odd to hear Lancaster speak in his voice while others were dubbed in American English, making it clear that Visconti’s full vision was missing. However, when I saw the complete version, I was struck by the film and Lancaster’s performance. Though Visconti initially wanted Laurence Olivier, Lancaster eventually won him over, and they became lifelong friends. Over time, The Leopard has grown in significance for me. It’s a film that deepens with every viewing.
Conclusion
Martin Scorsese’s filmography is a remarkable journey through the evolution of cinema, combining personal reflections with universal themes. From Taxi Driver, which explores urban alienation and violence, to Goodfellas, which depicts organized crime, Scorsese captures the raw intensity of human experiences. Raging Bull examines the fragility of masculinity, while The Last Temptation of Christ dives into spiritual conflict. Later works like The Irishman reflect on time, morality, and life’s consequences. Films like The Wolf of Wall Street and The Departed blend dark humor with tension, while Hugo celebrates the magic of filmmaking. Each film showcases Scorsese’s unique ability to tell emotionally and intellectually resonant stories, cementing his place as one of cinema’s greatest directors.
