Martin Scorsese, Priest of the Silver Screen
Martin Scorsese, renowned filmmaker, once aspired to become a priest in his youth. He believed that being a priest was a greater calling than even serving as the President of the United States.
Early Life in New York
Born in 1942, Scorsese grew up in the Little Italy neighborhood of New York City. At age 11, he lived in a small apartment with his parents and older brother, while his uncle and grandparents lived nearby.
The surrounding streets of the Lower East Side were rough and intimidating, filled with tough characters, loan sharks, and swindlers. These men often gathered on corners, exchanging jokes and stories, sometimes resorting to violence.
“I lived a life apart,” Scorsese later recalled. “I felt separate from everyone else.”
Because of severe asthma, he rarely ventured outside, observing the world from his bedroom window and absorbing every detail.
Religious Influence and Education
Scorsese’s parents, devout Catholics from the old country, wished for him to receive a religious upbringing. They sent him to St Patrick’s Old Cathedral school on Mulberry Street.
“Go around the corner, go to school,” his parents instructed.
It was there that Scorsese discovered his true passion and purpose in life.
Author’s Summary
Martin Scorsese’s childhood, marked by illness and his Catholic upbringing, profoundly shaped his identity, leading him to embrace filmmaking as his spiritual and creative calling.