ambition and achievement

His films like Whiplash and La La Land obsessively explore the psychological toll of pursuing excellence and the sacrifices demanded by artistic ambition.

He repeatedly examines the corrupting nature of ambition and the moral compromises required to achieve power in films like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and The Wolf of Wall Street.

His morally complex narratives like A Separation and The Salesman depict how personal ambitions and social aspirations create ethical dilemmas and unintended consequences.