Cat, Caroline and Krista

Taxi Driver

About the film

✤ 1976 American film

✤ DIRECTOR: Martin Scorsese

✤ WRITER: Paul Schrader

✤ ACTORS: Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster

✤ The film is set in New York City

✤ American psychological thriller

✤ Nominated for several awards

✤ The film follows Travis Bickle, a former marine who becomes a taxi driver to escape his insomnia. Throughout the film it is clear that Bickle is unstable; he gets frustrated with the petty crimes and “scum” in NYC and becomes violent in order to tackle the problems himself.

Themes/Concepts

✤ The film touches on violence, particularly in relation to guns, prostitution and petty crimes in NYC

✤ The colour red is used a lot throughout the film, particularly towards the end of the film as Travis becomes violent

✤ The film is slow moving, using a lot of panning shots to move to a specific area, rather than a quick cut

✤ The music indicates a particular atmosphere, as the mise en scene throughout the film is dark

✤ As well as watching Travis, we get an insight into his mind through the diary he writes which is read as a voiceover in parts of the film