mentor-apprentice relationship

His films consistently explore master-student dynamics, from Travis Bickle's street education in Taxi Driver to the visceral mentorship in Raging Bull and The Irishman's decades-long apprenticeship in crime.

Miyazaki's works repeatedly feature young protagonists guided by wise elders, most notably in Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle, where mentorship becomes a journey of self-discovery and moral growth.

Truffaut's filmography, particularly The 400 Blows and Day for Night, intimately portrays how mentors shape young lives through patience, creativity, and the passing of artistic and human wisdom.