Martin Scorsese, priest of the silver screen
From a young age, Martin Scorsese dreamed of becoming a priest, seeing it as a higher calling than even the presidency of the United States. Born in 1942, he grew up in Little Italy, New York City, surrounded by family and the challenges of a tough neighborhood.
Childhood in Little Italy
At 11 years old, Scorsese lived in a small apartment with his parents and older brother, near his uncle and grandparents. The streets of the Lower East Side were dangerous, filled with tough characters, loan sharks, and swindlers who often resorted to violence.
“I lived a life apart,” he later said. “I felt separate from everyone else.”
Severe asthma kept him indoors, where he observed the world outside from his bedroom window, storing every detail in his memory.
Religious upbringing
His parents, devout Catholics from the old country, wanted him to attend religious school. They sent him to St Patrick’s Old Cathedral on Mulberry Street with the simple instruction: “Go around the corner, go to school.” There, Scorsese discovered his true passion.
To him, being a priest was better than being president of the United States.
Faith and filmmaking
Though his path shifted from priesthood to cinema, Scorsese has practiced his faith more profoundly through directing than preaching from a pulpit.
His early environment and spiritual foundation deeply influenced his art, shaping one of cinema's greatest auteurs.
Author's summary: Martin Scorsese’s childhood faith dream and harsh upbringing shaped his unique film vision, proving his devotion flourished best behind the camera.