Neither Oppenheimer nor Anatomy of the Fall: What are Martin Scorsese’s two favorite movies of 2023?

It was emotional for Martin Scorsese, who a few days ago received an honorary Golden Bear from the hands of the Berlinale’s executive director, Mariette Riesenbeck, in recognition of his immense career, but also his constant concern for the preservation of the cinema.

The awards ceremony took place behind a presentation of his film The Departed, which won him his only Oscar to date for best director.

That wasn’t the only reason for March’s trip, as he also came to present England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger, a documentary he narrates that reviews the work of the two filmmakers he most respects. .

In his press conference, he particularly mentioned his work in film conservation World Cinema Project Through his film foundation, he explained that he discovered international cinema, especially filmmakers Kurosawa and Mizoguchi, thanks to English-dubbed versions of films and commercial breaks on American television.

“I don’t have time to pick random movies anymore”

But if Scorsese didn’t give the traditional question about his favorite movie that he’s been asked so often, he did give two of his favorite movies of 2023. “I’m 81 years old and time flies. I don’t have time to pick movies at random anymore. I try to see new movies as often as possible, but I just don’t have time.” she said.

He cites Past Lives – Nos vies d’avant by Canadian-Korean Celine Song (presented at the competition in Berlin last year). A truly brilliant and heartbreaking film that was released here in December 2023, and which is also competing for two Oscars this year, Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.

A favorite of Wim Wenders

The second film mentioned is Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days. In this work, which won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival for Koji Yakusho and was nominated for Best International Film at the Oscars, Wenders sets his cameras in Japan to follow the life of a man who works to maintain public toilets. in Tokyo.

A person who enjoys a simple life and a very structured everyday life. But also maintains a passion for music, books and trees, which he likes to photograph.

A favorite that must have appealed to Wenders, who also knows Scorsese well. The two have already worked together on the same project, a series of films dedicated to it the blues, documentaries about the musical genre of the same name. Scorsese was behind the first episode, From Mali to Mississippi, and the second was directed by Wenders.