Entertainment
Shakib Khan set to star Pan-Indian film 'Dard' alongside Sonal Chauhan
Dallywood's megastar Shakib Khan is all set to make his mark as the lead actor in the Pan-Indian film 'Dard' alongside popular Bollywood actress Sonal Chauhan.
The Pan-Indian film is being directed by Dhallywood's renowned filmmaker-distributor Anonno Mamun, the director of Shakib's successful film 'Nabab LLB' and also known for bringing Bollywood blockbusters 'Pathan' and 'Jawan' in theatres recently for the moviegoers in Bangladesh.
The film will be made in four languages - Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam, and the shooting is scheduled to start from October 27.
A press conference was held at a Mumbai restaurant on Wednesday night, joined by the lead actors, director and other associates of the film.
'Dard' will also showcase other Bangladeshi and Indian actors including Jessia Islam, Rajesh Sharma, Rahul Dev and Paayel Sarkar.
The film is being jointly produced by Shakib's own production house SK Movies, alongside One World Movies, Bangladesh's Action Cut Entertainment, and Kibria Films.
Chirkutt’s Sumi to join global music conference in Norway
Popular Bangladeshi singer, songwriter, composer, communication specialist and entrepreneur and country's popular band Chirkutt leader Sharmin Sultana Sumi has been invited to an international music conference in Norway.
Initiated by the University of Agder, Kristiansand in Norway, the conference, titled Kristiansand Roundtable Conference (KRC), is scheduled to take place from November 1 to 10 - in which Sumi will join three sessions.
These three sessions are ‘Scientific Conference - Strategy and Sustainability in Music Business’ (November 3), ‘Role of Women in BD Music Industry’ (November 7-8) and ‘Student Event - Music for Climate’ on November 9-10.
In these sessions, Sumi will speak, present and exchange viewpoints with the student-teachers while also talking about her journey as a pioneering female artist in the Bangladeshi music scene.
“After working with Bangla songs on a regular basis for the past 21 years in Bangladesh and the last 11 years internationally, people all over the globe want to hear from me and us about our music - and I believe this is an enormous shift and a huge opportunity for us,” Sumi said regarding this invitation.
Read: Asiatic EXP joins hands with AB Kitchen to promote Ayub Bachchu’s songs
“The world is much bigger than we think and there is a wide range of work opportunities for all of us. Taking advantage of that opportunity and speaking on the world’s stage for your country is a matter of peace, honour and pride for me as an artist,” she added.
When asked about her plans for the sessions, she said, “I will try to share my experience of working in the music industry for a long time as an artist and a female artist, to be specific - which I think may inspire many. Also, the talking points will be about the music of Bangladesh, the collective journey of our band and our 'Nodi Rocks’ project which I conducted from the place of responsibility of an artist on the issue of the negative impact of climate change."
The aforementioned ‘Nodi Rocks’ project began in February 2022 and focused on seven rivers across the country: the Kushiyara, Padma, Sangu, Chitra, Pashur, Dahuk, and Buriganga, with a mission to aware people of climate change and its impacts on these rivers in the riverine Bangladesh.
Read: Abbasuddin Ahmed played an important role in popularising Bhawaiya songs: KM Khalid
Seven music videos were made on these seven rivers by these seven bands: Arbovirus performed on Padma river, Smooches on Chitra, Cryptic Fate on Kushiyara, F Minor on Dahuk, Bangla Five on Pashur, Ashes on Buriganga and Sangu was featured by Chirkutt.
These videos gained popularity on social media platforms while the songs became fan-favorites and the project also brought up an exclusive concert in September last year. The project was the brainchild of Sumi, Chirkutt’s founding member-vocalist and Founder-CEO-Creative Director of Salt Creatives.
Read more: Rapper Aly Hasan collaborates with Toffee for World Cup song
Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh set to celebrate Golden Jubilee
The Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh (FFSB), the joint platform of the country’s film societies, will complete its 50 years on October 24.
The organisation was founded on October 24, 1973, in Dhaka, to bring all the active film societies of the country under one umbrella.
Marking the anniversary, all previous and present members of the nation's cinema parliaments will gather to celebrate and exchange perspectives on Tuesday, October 24, at 5 pm at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy's National Art Gallery auditorium, according to a press release.
All of the country's film parliamentarians will gather in this event which will be chaired by FFSB President architect Lailun Nahar Shemi, and will collectively make the event effective through a directional discussion on the contribution of film societies to the country's film culture and the future.
Throughout its 50-year journey, the organisation has been blessed with some of the best Bangladeshi filmmakers and cultural personalities as its President, including eminent film director Alamgir Kabir, National Professor Kabir Chowdhury, prominent filmmaker Badal Rahman, 'Ghuddi' - famed filmmaker Syed Salahuddin Zaki, renowned cultural personalities Mahbub Jamil and Syed Hasan Imam, and one of the Film Parliament's pioneers Muhammad Khosru, popular filmmakers Morshedul Islam and Manzare Hassin Murad.
Since its inception, the Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh has been focused on developing the film sense of the film workers of Bangladesh and improving the film thinking, sense of life and public taste of the wider society. The film parliament of the country continues to lead the movement in establishing and spreading the concept of film education in the country, alongside developing the country’s film literature.
The Federation's activities resulted in the construction of the Bangladesh Film Archive and the Bangladesh Film and Television Institute, as well as the introduction of the National Film Awards and film grants in the country. Films are now taught at the university level in Bangladesh as a result of the film parliament movement's ongoing efforts, according to the organisation.
Meryl Streep, husband living separately for more than six years
Meryl Streep and her husband Don Gummer have been living separately for more than six years, reports CNN.
In a statement to People on Saturday, one of Streep’s representatives said, “Don Gummer and Meryl Streep have been separated for more than 6 years, and while they will always care for each other, they have chosen lives apart.”
Also read: 12 Most Awaited South Indian Movies Releasing in November 2023: A Sneak Peek
The three-time Oscar winner and Gummer, a sculptor, got married in 1978. Last month marked their 45th wedding anniversary.
Streep and Gummer were photographed at numerous events together over the years but largely kept their personal lives out of the press.
Also read: List of English Language Netflix Originals Coming in November 2023
In 2012, Streep paid tribute to Gummer in her best actress Oscar acceptance speech for her performance in “The Iron Lady”.
“First, I’m going to thank Don because when you thank your husband at the end of the speech, they play him out with the music, and I want him to know that everything I value most in our lives, you’ve given me,” Streep said at the time.
Also read: Aruna Biswas’s debut film 'Ashomvob' set to release this October
12 Most Awaited South Indian Movies Releasing in November 2023: A Sneak Peek
As a new month is approaching, fans of South Indian movies are waiting to watch a variety of films from the Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada film industries. Like every month, in November 2023, the action, music, and drama are set to hit the screens. Now, get ready to be entranced, as this sneak peek unveils the 12 most anticipated South Indian movies releasing in November 2023.
Top 12 Most Hyped South Indian Films Coming This November
Maa Oori Polimera 2 | Telugu | November 2, 2023
Maa Oori Polimera, the enigmatic thriller that enthralled audiences back in 2021, is set to return with a highly anticipated sequel. The original film was steeped in mysticism, superstitions, and a series of perplexing deaths. This second part promises to venture even deeper into the world of ancient superstitions and sorcery.
This time, the story follows a police officer who delves into the connection between a string of gruesome murders in Mahabubnagar and the domain of black magic. Accompanied by an archaeologist, they set out to unravel the mysteries surrounding the village temple.
Read more: After death threats, Shah Rukh to get beefed up security
Key cast members, including Satyam Rajesh, Kamakshi Bhaskarla, Getup Srinu, Baladitya, Chilam Sheenu, and Ravi Vermal, reprise their roles in this sequel.
Dr. Anil Viswanath, who also directed the movie, penned the screenplay and dialogues. Adding an eerie and atmospheric dimension to the storyline, the music is composed by Gnani. Cinematography is handled by Kushedar Ramesh Reddy, while Sree Vara takes on the role of the editor. The film's producer is Gowr Kriesna under Shree Krishna Creations.
Aadikeshava | Telugu | November 10, 2023
Directed by debutant director Srikanth N Reddy, Aadikeshava features a musical score by G V Prakash Kumar and cinematography by Dudly. Bankrolled by Sithara Entertainments, the cinema will be brought to life on the edit table by National Award-winning editor Navin Nooli.
Aadikeshava will uncover the world of Rudra, portrayed by Panja Vaisshnav Tej, as he fearlessly takes on goons at a Shiva temple. With Sreeleela in the lead female role, Joju George and Aparna Das play supporting roles.
Read more: Khufiya: All eyes on Badhon
Mangalavaram | Telugu | November 17, 2023
Acclaimed director Ajay Bhupathi, known for hits like 'RX 100' and 'Maha Samudram,' is ready to captivate audiences again with Mangalavaram. This highly anticipated film features the talented Payal Rajput in the lead role. What sets this film apart is its versions in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi.
Described as a rustic action thriller, the cinema offers a unique rural backdrop for the storyline. Mangalavaram boasts an ensemble cast, including Payal Rajput, Shree Tej, Chaitanya Krishna, Ajay Ghosh, and Laxman.
The cinematography is done by Dasarathi Shivendra, with music composed by B. Ajanish Loknath. Editing by Madhav Kumar Gullapally ensures a seamless flow of the story.
Read more: English Language Netflix Originals Coming in October 2023
Jigarthanda DoubleX | Tamil | November 10, 2023
Also known as Jigarthanda 2, this action comedy film is directed by Karthik Subbaraj. The film is produced by Kaarthekeyen Santhanam, Alankar Pandian, and S. Kathiresan. A seqel to the 2014 hit Jigarthanda, it stars Raghava Lawrence and S. J. Suryah in lead roles.
The plot centers around a filmmaker who collaborates with a dreaded gangster to make a western movies.
Santhosh Narayanan has contributed for the soundtrack and background score. The cinematography and editing are handled by S. Thirunavukkarasu and Shafique Mohamed Ali respectively.
This film will also be released in Telugu and Hindi versions.
Read more: Bongo BD to release South Indian comedy movie 'F2: Fun and Frustration' with Bengali version this week
Japan | Tamil | November 12, 2023
This crime comedy-thriller film was written and directed by Raju Murugan. Produced by S. R. Prabhu under Dream Warrior Pictures, the cinema stars Karthi and Anu Emmanuel in lead roles. Apart from Tamil, this film’s dubbed versions in Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada are also scheduled for release.
Japan, a notorious maestro of theft, orchestrates the heist of jewels valued at ₹200 crore from an upscale jewelry store. Thus, it set the stage for a high-stakes cat-and-mouse pursuit by the relentless police force.
G. V. Prakash Kumar is the music composer, with Ravi Varman handling the cinematography and Philomin Raj taking on the editing.
Read more: Top 12 Most Anticipated South Indian Films Releasing in October 2023
Dhruva Natchathiram | Tamil | November 24, 2023
Dhruva Natchathiram: Chapter One – Yuddha Kaandam is an action spy film made under the direction of Gautham Vasudev Menon. The film features Vikram, Ritu Varma, Vinayakan, R. Parthiban, Simran, and Radhika Sarathkumar in prominent roles.
The movie's music is composed by Harris Jayaraj, with editing by Praveen Antony. The cinematography section was jointly looked after by Manoj Paramahamsa, Jomon T. John, and Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran.
The story revolves around a New York City-based undercover operative and his team on a secret mission to find their missing team leader.
Read more: Bongo BD presents heartwarming love story of two nameless tourists in "Hello Stranger"
List of English Language Netflix Originals Coming in November 2023
Like every month, Netflix is gearing up to release several shows and movies in November. While overall, the platform welcomes content from several languages, English content has always dominated their list. This is particularly because of the sheer volume of content released by Netflix every month. With that said, here are 10 of the highly anticipated English language shows coming to Netflix in November 2023.
Top 10 Netflix English Original Shows Coming This November
All the Light We Cannot See
All the Light We Cannot See is a 2014 war novel written by Anthony Doerr. The book follows the life of two teenagers against the backdrop of the Second World War. One is a blind French girl and the other is a German boy forced to fight for the Nazi regime.
The novel has been developed as a limited drama series by Steven Knight for Netflix. The series is directed by Shawn Levy with Aria Mia Loberti, Mark Ruffalo, and Hugh Laurie in lead roles. All the Light We Cannot See will be released on Netflix on November 2, 2023.
Read more: Aruna Biswas’s debut film 'Ashomvob' set to release this October
Sly
2023 has seen some amazing documentaries from Netflix. Keeping up with that trend, Netflix is here with Sylvester Stallone’s Sly. It’s a documentary covering the life of the acclaimed actor who has been entertaining action lovers for over 5 decades.
The documentary will follow the story of Stallone’s rise and how he built some of his most iconic characters including that of Rocky and Rambo. The retrospective documentary is directed by Thom Zimny with a special guest appearance from Quentin Tarantino. Sly is set to premiere on Netflix on November 3, 2023.
The Killer
Ever since the success of Mads Mikkelsen’s Polar released in 2019 on Netflix, neo-noir action thrillers have seen a rise in interest. Keeping up with the demand, Netflix is bringing The Killer directed by David Fincher with screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker.
Netflix didn’t give much away about the plot other than that it involves a failed assassination, an international manhunt, and revenge that insists on not being personal. David Fincher and Netflix last collaborated in Mindhunter which has been acclaimed by the viewers and critics alike.
Read more: Legal notice seeks ban on screening of 'Mujib: The Making of a Nation'
The Killer stars Michael Fassbender, Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, and Tilda Swinton in lead roles. It is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on October 27 and Netflix release on November 10, 2023.
Stamped from the Beginning
The history of racism in America is deeply rooted and extremely troubling. Even if the practice of open racism has been subdued, discrimination still remains.
Ibram X. Kendi, Angela Davis, and Julian Joseph explore the complex development of racist ideas in this new documentary from Netflix. The show is written by Ibram X. Kendi and David Teague with direction from Roger Ross Williams. Stamped from the Beginning premiers on November 15.Best. Christmas. Ever!
November with its winter chills brings the anticipation of the holiday season. And no Christmas is complete without a dedicated Christmas movie. Every year, Netflix roles out their Christmas movies starting from early November and 2023 is also no different.
Read more: Omar Sani signs deal for new film ‘Dead Body’
Best. Christmas. Ever!
Follows the friendship of Jackie and Charlotte. Every year Jackie sends a newsletter during Christmas to Charlotte. As Charlotte shows up at Jackie’s door for this year’s Christmas, what will Jackie do to keep up her tradition?
The movie sees Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, and Jason Biggs in lead roles. It is scheduled to be released on November 16, 2023
Aruna Biswas’s debut film 'Ashomvob' set to release this October
Dhallywood’s acclaimed actress Aruna Biswas is all set to debut as a film director with her maiden film ‘Ashomvob’, set to be released in theatres across the country this October.
Featuring an ensemble cast of notable actors including Jyotsna Biswas (Aruna Biswas' mother), Abul Hayat, Sohana Saba, Shahed Sharif Khan, Shatabdi Wadud, Gazi Abdun Noor and others, ‘Ashomvob’ puts the spotlight on ‘Jatrapala’, the glorious traditional medium of entertainment in Bengal.
Read: Legal notice seeks ban on screening of 'Mujib: The Making of a Nation'
In addition, the plot of the government-granted film also revolves around the everyday lives of the rural community and the 1971 Liberation War.
Initially set to be released on October 21, the film is now scheduled to be released on October 27, according to the film’s lead actress Sohana Saba.
As per media reports, the decision was made due to the countrywide screening of the Arifin Shuvoo starrer Shyam Benegal film ‘Mujib: The Making of a Nation’ which is currently running successfully across the theatres.
Read: Khufiya: All eyes on Badhon
“Our great Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s life is brilliantly portrayed in the film and we want our moviegoers to watch the movie, thus we are delaying our film ‘Ashomvob’ a bit - however, it will be in theatres very soon, and we want to release the film in maximum theatres,” the actress-turned-filmmaker said in a recent interview.
Songs featured in this film are written by late eminent lyricist Gazi Mazharul Anwar, and it also features the iconic song ‘Moder Gorob Moder Asha’, penned by Atul Prasad Sen.
Rezaul Hoque's solo exhibition ‘Living on the Edge’ begins
Artist Rezaul Hoque’s solo exhibition titled ‘Living on the Edge’ began at Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) in the capital’s Dhanmondi on Friday.
Eminent human rights activist Sultana Kamal attended the event as the chief guest while renowned artists Mohammad Eunus and Biren Shome attended the event as special guests, said a press release.
Read: Info Minister says everyone should watch ‘Mujib: The making of a nation’
Rezaul Hoque’s art is an expression of human emotions and inequalities in everyday life, while dreaming of a beautiful future. His paintings at this exhibition are mainly about people and their life-struggle, exploitation, rights, inequality, hope and different deep-rooted perceptions of life.
Through his unique painting technique of painting paper by burning it through heat convection, his images come out in golden hues which also depicts the impression of being burnt by life’s struggles.
Around 40 artworks are on display, most of which are in the artist’s own innovative technique of painting based on application of heat convection to burn paper burn.
Paintings in other media will also be on display.
Read: Group exhibition of late great Kalidas and his brothers begins on artist's 4th death anniversary
Graduated from the Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka, Rezaul Hoque, has created a unique technique of painting using heat convection, presented at this exhibition.
He has participated in various national and international solo and group art exhibitions, recent ones include: 2022 Collective Art Exhibition titled "Love in Multiple Forms" organized by the New York-based Agora Gallery.
The exhibition will be open to all till October 31, Monday to Saturday from 3 pm to 9 pm.
Info Minister says everyone should watch ‘Mujib: The making of a nation’
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said everyone should watch the Bangabandhu biopic ‘Mujib-The Making of a Nation’.
He said this after attending a special screening of the film at Star Cineplex on Friday.
He was accompanied by family members spanning different age groups, from children to adults.
Regarding the movie, he said, “Everyone should watch it. I brought the children because history can be conveyed through words, but when it is depicted visually, it leaves a lasting impression in the heart. Hence, I believe the new generation should also watch this movie.”
“This marks my fifth time watching the film. I watched it twice during its production. I also saw it at the Toronto Film Festival, attended the premiere, and brought my children to the screening today,” said the AL leader.
Minister Hasan Mahmud went on to provide his perspective on the film, “Firstly, the title of the movie aptly reflects its content - 'Mujib-Ek Rati Rupkar,' 'Mujib - The Making of a Nation.' Through this film, one can gain insight into how Bangabandhu confronted death while remaining resolute in his quest for the rights, independence, and self-determination of the Bangladeshi people. It portrays how he fearlessly carried forward the Bangladesh liberation struggle, even in the face of death.”
Highlighting the film's uniqueness, Hasan Mahmud said, “In just three hours, it encapsulates the history of our nation, detailing our path to independence and the transformation of Bangabandhu from a child to Mujib, then from Mujib to Bangabandhu, and ultimately, Bangabandhu's journey to becoming the father of the nation.”
“I've reached a mature age, yet many of the things depicted in this film are new to me. For example, I had never seen Suhrawardy or Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani in this manner; my knowledge of them was confined to what I'd read in newspapers and magazines. Most notably, the film unveils the tragic events of August 15, providing a glimpse into the fanaticism and ruthlessness of the killers. Even after viewing it five times, I find it difficult to contain my emotions,” he added.
Since October 13, the biographical film chronicling the life of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has been screened across nearly 200 screens in 153 theaters nationwide. The film is a collaborative effort between the governments of Bangladesh and India.
Martin Scorsese is still curious — and still awed by the possibilities of cinema
A moment from years ago keeps replaying in Martin Scorsese 's mind.
When Akira Kurosawa was given an honorary Academy Award in 1990, the then 80-year-old Japanese filmmaker of "Seven Samurai" and "Ikiru," in his brief, humble speech, said he hadn't yet grasped the full essence of cinema.
It struck Scorsese, then in post-production on "Goodfellas," as a curious thing for such a master filmmaker to say. It wasn't until Scorsese also turned 80 that he began to comprehend Kurosawa's words. Even now, Scorsese says he's just realizing the possibilities of cinema.
Also read: Group exhibition of late great Kalidas and his brothers begins on artist's 4th death anniversary
"I've lived long enough to be his age and I think I understand now," Scorsese said in a recent interview. "Because there is no limit. The limit is in yourself. These are just tools, the lights and the camera and that stuff. How much further can you explore who you are?"
Scorsese's lifelong exploration has seemingly only grown deeper and more self-examining with time. In recent years, his films have swelled in scale and ambition as he's plumbed the nature of faith ( "Silence" ) and loss ( "The Irishman" ).
His latest, "Killers of the Flower Moon," about the systematic killing of Osage Nation members for their oil-rich land in the 1920s, is in many ways far outside Scorsese's own experience. But as a story of trust and betrayal — the film is centered on the loving yet treacherous relationship between Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone), a member of a larger Osage family, and Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), a WWI veteran who comes to work for his corrupt uncle (Robert De Niro) — it's a profoundly personal film that maps some of the themes of Scorsese's gangster films onto American history.
Also read: Asiatic EXP joins hands with AB Kitchen to promote Ayub Bachchu’s songs
More than the back-room dealings of "Casino," the bloody rampages of "Gangs of New York" or the financial swindling of "The Wolf of Wall Street," "Killers of the Flower Moon" is the story of a crime wave. It's a disturbingly insidious one, where greed and violence infiltrate the most intimate relationships — a genocide in the home. All of which, to Scorsese, harkens back to the tough guys and the weak-willed go-alongs he witnessed in his childhood growing up on Elizabeth Street in New York.
"That's been my whole life, dealing with who we are," says Scorsese. "I found that this story lent itself to that exploration further."
"Killers of the Flower Moon," a $200-million, 206-minute epic produced by Apple that's in theaters Friday, is an audacious big swing by Scorsese to continue his kind of ambitious, personal filmmaking on the largest scale at a time when such grand, big-screen statements are a rarity.
Scorsese considers "Killers of the Flower Moon" "an internal spectacle." The Oklahoma-set film, adapted from David Grann's 2017 bestseller, might be called his first Western. But while developing Grann's book, which chronicles the Osage murders and the birth of the FBI, Scorsese came to the realization that centering the film on federal investigator Tom White was a familiar a type of Western.
"I realized: 'You don't do that. Your Westerns are the Westerns you saw in the late '40s and early '50s, that's it. Peckinpah finished that. 'Wild Bunch,' that's the end. Now they're different," he says. "It represented a certain time in who we were as a nation and a certain time in the world – and the end of the studio system. It was a genre. That folklore is gone."
Scorsese, after conversations with Leonardo DiCaprio, pivoted to the story of Ernest and Mollie and a perspective closer to Osage Nation. Consultations with the tribe continued and expanded to include accurately capturing language, traditional clothing and customs.
Also read: On big screen, moviegoers find new way to appreciate Bangabandhu in Shyam Benegal's biopic
"It's historical that Indigenous Peoples can tell their story at this level. That's never happened before as far as I know," says Geoffrey Standing Bear, Principal Chief of Osage Nation. "It took somebody who could know that we've been betrayed for hundreds of years. He wrote a story about betrayal of trust."
"Killers of the Flower Moon" for Scorsese grew out of a period of reflection and reevaluation during the pandemic. COVID-19, he says, was "a gamechanger." For a filmmaker whose time is so intensely scheduled, the break was in some ways a relief, and it allowed him a chance to reconsider what he wants to dedicate himself to. For him, preparing a film is a meditative process.
"I don't use a computer because I tried a couple times and I got very distracted. I get distracted as it is," Scorsese says. "I've got films, I've got books, I've got people. I've only begun this year to read emails. Emails, they scare me. It says 'CC' and there are a thousand names. Who are these people?"
Scorsese is laughing when he says this, surely aware that he's playing up his image as a member of the old guard. (A moment later he adds that voicemail "is interesting to do at times.") Yet he's also keen enough with technology to digitally de-age De Niro and make cameos in his daughter Francesca's TikTok videos.
Scorsese has for years been the preeminent conscience of cinema, passionately arguing for the place of personal filmmaking in an era of moviegoing where films can be devalued as "content," theater screens are monopolized by Marvel and big-screen vision can be shrunk down on streaming platforms.
"I'm trying to keep alive the sense that cinema is an artform," Scorsese says. "The next generation may not see it that way because as children and younger people, they're exposed to films that are wonderful entertainment, beautifully made, but are purely diversionary. I think cinema can enrich your life."
Also read: I have done my best to portray Bangabandhu on silver screen: Arifin Shuvoo
"As I'm leaving, I'm trying to say: Remember, this can really be something beautiful in your life."
That mission includes spearheading extensive restoration work with the Film Foundation along with a regular output of documentaries in between features. Scorsese and his longtime editor Thelma Schoonmaker are currently producing a documentary on Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.
Cinema, he says, may be the preeminent 20th century artform, but something else will belong to the 21st century. Now, Scorsese says, "the visual image could be done by anything by anybody anytime anywhere."
"The possibilities are infinite on all levels. And that's exciting," Scorsese says. "But at the same time, the more choices, the more difficult it is."
The pressure of time is weighing more heavily on Scorsese, too. He has, he's said, maybe two more feature films left in him. Currently in the mix are an adaptation of Grann's latest book, the 18th century shipwreck tale "The Wager, " and an adaptation of Marilynne Robinson's "Home."
"He's uncompromising. He just does what he feels he really wants to look into," says Rodrigo Prieto, Scorsese's cinematographer on "Flower Moon," as well as his last three feature films.
"You can feel that it's a personal exploration of his own psyche," adds Prieto. "In doing that, he allows growth for everybody, in a way, to really look into these characters who might be doing things we might find very objectionable. I can't think of many other filmmakers who attempt at such a level of empathy and understanding."
Also read: Khufiya: All eyes on Badhon
Yet Scorsese says he often feels like he's in a race to accomplish what he can with the time he has left. Increasingly, he's prioritizing what's worth it. Some things are easier for him to give up.
"Would I like to do more? Yeah. Would I like to go to everybody's parties and dinner parties and things? Yeah, but you know what? I think I know enough people," Scorsese says with a laugh. "Would I like to go see the ancient Greek ruins? Yes. Go back to Sicily? Yes. Go back to Naples again? Yes. North Africa? Yes. But I don't have to."
Time for Scorsese may be waning but curiosity is as abundant as ever. Recent reading for him includes a new translation of Alessandro Manzoni's "The Betrothed." Some old favorites he can't help but keep revisiting. "Out of the Past" — a movie he first saw as 6-year-old — he watched again a few weeks ago. ("Whenever it's on, I have to stop and watch it.") Vittorio De Sica's "Golden Naples" was another recent rewatch.
"If I'm curious about something, I think I'll find a way – if I hold out, if I hold up – to try to make something about it on film," he says. "My curiosity is still there."
So too is his continued astonishment at cinema and its capacity to transfix. Sometimes, Scorsese can hardly believe it. The other day he watched the Val Lewton-produced 1945 horror film "The Isle of the Dead," with Boris Karloff.
Also read: Top 12 Most Anticipated South Indian Films Releasing in October 2023
"Really? How many more times am I going to see that?" Scorsese says, laughing at himself. "It's their looks and their faces and the way (Karloff) moves. When I first saw it as a child, a young teenager, I was terrified by the film and the silences of it. The sense of contamination. I still get stuck on it."