The Italian Neo-Realism movement, and De Sica's The Bicycle Thieves and Rossellini's Rome, Open City, were really important. And then the French New Wave, Godard's Breathless in particular, influenced me. The whole idea of a film being alive, on the streets, no sets, capturing the moment – that was the dream for Mean Streets.
The whole idea of a film being alive, on the streets, no sets, capturing the moment – that was the dream for Mean Streets. Italian Neo-Realism and the French New Wave, especially Godard's Breathless, were really important influences.
— Martin Scorsese · Empire Magazine interview
When I was 10, a teacher showed us Scorsese's 'Mean Streets,' and I was like, 'Oh my god, I want to be Martin Scorsese.' It showed me cinema could be about anything and everything.
— Martin Scorsese · IndieWire interview with Anne Thompson
The whole idea of a film being alive, on the streets, no sets, capturing the moment – that was the dream for Mean Streets. Italian Neo-Realism and the French New Wave, particularly Godard's Breathless, were really important influences.
— Martin Scorsese · Empire Magazine interview
Films That Influenced Mean Streets
