Scene - by Abel Ferrara (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A kaleidoscopic memoir by acclaimed filmmaker Abel Ferrara, director of the cult classic films Bad Lieutenant, King of New York, and Dangerous Game, offering an unflinching look at his life, career, and the gritty world of independent cinema.

Throughout his five-decade career, film director Abel Ferrara--now in his seventies--has been one of cinema's most provocative and critically revered figures. Since beginning as an independent filmmaker in Manhattan in the early 1970s--before "indie films" were a genre--and refining his craft as a director for the TV show Miami Vice, he has directed more than thirty feature films, most notably the cult classics Bad Lieutenant, King of New York, and Dangerous Game. His work, often controversial for its depictions of sex, violence, and drugs, has been praised for its sincerity and depth, with critics noting that his films take spirituality and morality more seriously than most films do. In Scene, Ferrara opens up about the inspiration for his creativity detailing his dramatic life journey, from his rough upbringing in the 1950s Bronx to reaching the pinnacle of his career while struggling with addiction. This memoir is not just a recounting of his life but a manifesto on what it means to be a true artist--one who refuses to compromise and continues to create boundary-pushing work. Scene is a profound, beautiful, and inspiring account of an artist's relentless pursuit of creativity, making it a must-read for film fans and anyone interested in the gritty realities of the entertainment industry.

Review Quotes

"Scene is so full of cinematically told stories that we can only imagine what was left on the cutting room floor."-- "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"

"[Abel Ferrara] is one of the most consistently interesting, unpredictable, and vital American filmmakers of the past half century, a model of hardheaded integrity, independence, insubordination, and never-say-die hustle for generations of cineastes and cinephiles who chafe at the confines of the decision-by-committee corporate filmmaking that has long diluted our national cinema."-- "Harper's Magazine"

"[A] veritable testament to his considerable body of uncompromising, at times devastating work, and even within a career filled with countless sublime moments, Scene is a singular accomplishment."-- "Filmmaker Magazine"

"A candid portrait of a tarnished moment in film's last golden age."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Abel Ferrara's Scene: A Memoir isn't some sanitized vanity project; it's more like a street corner confession--or, depending on your appetite, a demonic instruction manual."-- "Screen Slate"

"Abel Ferrara's movies are often driven by the consequences of addictive behavior. The director's memoir confronts his own appetites with candor."--Farran Smith Nehme "Wall Street Journal"

"Frank and unflinching without curdling into cynicism ("The life force you come into the world with can be flipped from the bad back to the good, refocused and nurtured"), this offers a fascinating window into a storied career. Admirers of Ferrara's films will be rapt."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"It's the kind of "celebrity memoir" we rarely see: one that shows its author in a brutally honest light, holding nothing back. A remarkable life story, brilliantly told."-- "Booklist"

"Less a period at the end of his career than it is an ellipsis leading to whatever comes next, Scene serves as the latest entry in a body of work that remains dangerously, thrillingly alive."-- "Bright Wall/Dark Room"

About the Author

Abel Ferrara is a critically acclaimed film director. Some of his cult classic works include Bad Lieutenant, King of New York, and Dangerous Game. He lives in Rome.