Alan Reyes Fs 100 Fall 2020 University of Alberta Analysis of Taxi driver In Taxi driver director Martin Scorsese consistently uses voice-over narration, and music when filming Travis, to express and let us understand his thoughts and state of mind throughout the film. The interludes of him writing in his diary with a loud orchestra illustrate the downfall of Travis’s frame of mind from being hopeful to later in the film going desperate and lonely. In the beginning, we come to know what Travis’ thoughts on his surrounding which is not optimistic, but he has hope to live a life like everyone else. Later he describes this beautiful woman, betty, whom he feels an attraction to, giving him a purpose to peruse a relationship with her. All of this is filmed in a voiceover narration, with a beautiful slow song as it can be interpreted as him feeling hopeful But later in the movie, he makes a wrong impression on betty. He expresses to his diary (us the audience) how his life took a turn for the wrong as the music in the scene turns into a very loud orchestra with an uncomfortable environment, illustrating that something is not right. A very important element while all of this happens is a bouquet of roses slowly dying, as his hope dies. He changes his perspective on life making him see everyone as “scum” Right after meeting with Iris, the orchestra music gives off a feeling that something is going very wrong, as he lights on fire the flowers, he had in his room with a close up shot, and a very tense orchestra playing. which can be interpreted as Travis sanity decaying, as the film comes to an end. Loneliness, and despair, can make hope seem unreachable, as Travis perspective in life slowly deteriorated, making him make terrible decisions. The director portrays a perfect illustration of Travis’ mind with the use of music and voice over narration.
