Paul Schrader

Paul Joseph Schrader, born on July 22, 1946, is a prominent American screenwriter, film director, and critic. He gained significant recognition for penning the screenplay for Martin Scorsese's iconic film, Taxi Driver, released in 1976. This collaboration blossomed further with Schrader contributing to other Scorsese classics, including Raging Bull (1980), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), and Bringing Out the Dead (1999).

In addition to his impactful screenwriting, Schrader has directed 24 films, with notable titles such as Blue Collar (1978), Hardcore (1979), American Gigolo (1980), Cat People (1982), Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985), Light Sleeper (1992), Affliction (1997), and First Reformed (2017). His direction of First Reformed earned him his first Academy Award nomination. A recurring theme in Schrader's work is the portrayal of troubled men facing existential dilemmas, often culminating in a violent and cathartic climax.

Raised in a strict Calvinist household, Schrader initially studied at Calvin College but later pursued film studies at UCLA, spurred by the encouragement of esteemed critic Pauline Kael. His early career included writing the influential book Transcendental Style in Film: Ozu, Bresson, Dreyer (1972) before transitioning to screenwriting in 1974. Recently, he has described his last three films—First Reformed, The Card Counter (2021), and Master Gardener (2022)—as a loose trilogy.