-ARTISTIC MELTDOWN #2-
When it comes to nervous breakdowns and their ability to spawn artistry, one of the most notable examples in cinema is the seminal cult-classic Taxi Driver: a movie that’s frequently called one of the most important films of all time. While the movie is known primarily as a Martin Scorsese film, it was Paul Schrader’s unhinged mind that brought the story into being. The film revolves around an unstable taxi driver named Travis Bickle, who descends into complete madness as a result of his alienation and depression, eventually taking upon the role of a vigilante.
What inspired such a bizarre tale? Well, the movie was semi-autobiographical for Paul Schrader. At the time, Schrader was faced with a number of hardships. On top of a messy divorce, Schrader had just been fired from the American Film Institute. Adding to that, Schrader was also rejected by his live-in girlfriend, leaving him homeless. Schrader proceeded to spend his days living within the confines of his car, completely friendless, jobless, and alone.
During a couple months while she was away, Schrader began squatting in his former girlfriend’s apartment, frequenting porno theaters and avoiding human contact for weeks at a time. Schrader began to develop an unhealthy fascination with guns, which combined with his nervous breakdown, should have been a recipe for disaster. However, instead of engaging in a violent rampage, Schrader began writing the screenplay for Taxi Driver, using an unloaded handgun as his muse.
Schrader’s insanity culminated in total success, resulting in the most influential film of the 1970s. Apparently Travis Bickle was behind the typewriter the whole time.
And thank goodness for that.
~M.C.
