“Loneliness has followed me my whole life, everywhere. In bars, in cars, sidewalks, stores, everywhere. There’s no escape. I’m God’s lonely man.” Travis Bickle
An enthralling story about a dysfunctional war veteran on the streets of New York, Taxi Driver is a thriller, delving deep into the human psyche. It disturbs, but intrigues, repels but draws you into the maelstrom of emotional and circumstantial confusions that populate Travis Bickle’s life. But actually, really, all Travis wants, it to just fit in. This struggle is beautifully played out in the plot of the film. Action packed, with a host of fabulously drawn out characters, this story reflects the irrationality of the city in the 70’s. Watch a young Robert de Niro’s finely sketched portrayal, and Martin Scorsese’s brilliant direction of a man’s descent into violence and madness. Even the female characters, Cybill Shepherd and 12-year old Jodie Foster {who plays a prostitute}, do not provide a breather from the hard-hitting style of the film which is like a rollercoaster ride inside Travis’ unstable head. The film was nominated for 4 Oscars, in 1977.
About the Movie | Travis Bickle is an ex-Marine and Vietnam War veteran living in New York City. As he suffers from insomnia, he spends his time working as a taxi driver at night, watching porn movies at seedy cinemas during the day, or thinking about how the world, New York in particular, has deteriorated into a cesspool. He’s a loner who has strong opinions about what is right and wrong with mankind. For him, the one bright spot in New York humanity is Betsy, a worker on the presidential nomination campaign of Senator Charles Palantine. He becomes obsessed with her. After an incident with her, he believes he has to do whatever he needs to to make the world a better place in his opinion. One of his priorities is to be the savior for Iris, a twelve-year-old runaway and prostitute who he believes wants out of the profession and under the thumb of her pimp and lover Matthew.
Join us for a screening and discussion of ‘Taxi Driver’
at
Hauz Khas Village
Sunday, October 7, 2012
5 pm onwards
Write to us at contactus@littleblackbookdelhi.com to register if you’re coming for the first time, or for any further details
{Summary courtesy: www.imdb.com}
