Name a great Scorsese movie, and itll almost certainly have been edited by Thelma Schoonmaker.
Scorseses latest film isSilence, a powerful, heartfelt period piece about the limits of faith.
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Congratulations onSilence, which I thought was a wonderful film.
And of course, youre dealing with the 17th century, which was very different from ours.
I mean,Hugocouldnt be more different thanWolf Of Wall Streetalso.
It comes out as cicadas or waves or wind.
So all of that together is what gives the film its unique style, I think.
The sound man wanted to kill the bird if he could find it!
Marty was saying, No, no, no!
Thats part of it.
So you were editing it in Taiwan as it was being shot?
Did being there help you soak up the atmosphere of the place?
Did that help you fall into that meditative editing rhythm?
Well, I didnt visit those beautiful locations because they were very difficult to get to.
Long slogs through mud and typhoons and fog and heat and cobras, you know?
[Laughs]
Oh God!
It would have taken much too long for me to get to the location and back.
It was just amazing that island is volcanic, Taiwan, and there are lots of earthquakes.
They had a very bad one this last year.
The black sand on those beaches is volcanic.
But I couldnt get to all that unfortunately!
I didnt see the great beauty myself, but I saw it on film!
And hed say, Really?
Because were all so exhausted!
Getting up there to capture those images and the fog would come in at a moments notice.
Theres the big scene in the movie where the samurai emerge from the fog that wasnt intended.
Thats what happens up in the mountains the fog comes in really fast.
And so everybody said, Oh my God, what are we going to do?
And he said, Shoot it!
Its beautiful in the film.
And Martys always loved grasping onto accidents.
Are you talkin to me?
was an accident inTaxi Driver,and then Marty said, Well, lets develop that.
He has that very grounded style.
Oh, he loves documentaries.
In documentaries, he feels freer.
We both have a strong documentary background cinema verite was just flourishing when we first became filmmakers.
I feel thatSilencecontinues the themes ofWolf Of Wall Streetin a funny sort of way.
And it started very early with Marty.
Theyre all over that movie.
Which means you venture to help other people as well as yourself.
Its constant throughout his movies, and youre quite right inWolf Of Wall Street,its there.
[Laughs] So its constant throughout his movies, but not in a simple way, its complicated.
Theyre about the grey area between good and evil.
As were my husbands movies, Michael Powells films.
So hes aware that its not simple.
It must be difficult to not edit yourself, as it were, based on what critics might say?
Its very painful for him.
He doesnt read [reviews] that much!
I can take them better than he can.
Were used to it, you know?
Our films were horribly received for years.Years!
Raging Bullwas badly received at first.
It took 10 years for it to be recognised.
So were very used to it, but its extremely painful.
[Laughs] So I guess he never did!
It ruined his career, and Marty brought it back.
Scorsese understands better than anyone that it can take years for a film to be fully appreciated.
My husband had seen great masters before him ruined because they were too far ahead of their time.
He was destroyed by Mayer, and my husband saw that.
Hed seen and read through history so many great artists being destroyed.
And he doesnt only help older directors.
He has relationships with directors all over the world, in the most remote countries.
To the crew, thats right.
Do you know what films he chose beforeSilencestarted filming?
But I really dont know I should get that list so I can answer that question better!
But he shows me films.
So that happens a lot.
You know, its not mimicking, its just an inspiration.
I mean, some directors just mimic Hitchcock, dont they?
He takes the inspiration inside, and it comes out as his own.
Oh yes [ruefully].
It waiting to be rediscovered!
Well, this is what I was going to ask you.
Why isnt it a more celebrated film of his, do you think?
I think theres a cult following for it it sounds like youre one of them, which is great.
But theres a following building.
When I saw the trailer I said, Wait a minute!
Thats not what the movies about!
I think people were made nervous by the theme of it, which I think is beautiful.
I think itll get its due.
And so its a beautiful film, but it was hard for people to take, I think.
But I think its great, and Im so glad youre interested in it.
Its wonderful, and beautifully lit and shot as well.
They were out in the streets of New York, and it was impossible to shoot in.
Yet thats where they did it all.
[Laughs]
But as you say, thats what happens when you go out on a limb.
Its worth it to create these movies that are so different.
They lost their ability to make those great masterpieces.
But at least he saw it all come back at the end of his life thanks to Marty.
I saw him stand in front of audiences of 18-year-olds, and they just loved the movies.
That was great to see.
It was a long time coming!
[Laughs]
A Matter Of Life And Deathis one of my favourite films.
Its such a beautiful film.
Oh, its so great.
It was very surprising to me.
Thelma Schoonmaker, thanks ever so much for you time!
Silenceis out in UK cinemas on the 1st January.
