I rewatched Taxi Driver yesterday only to be reminded that what I call a mirror in the video is actually a window. I wrote the script for this video mostly by memory and somehow mixed things up on this part, the point remains the same though. If you like Taxi Driver and relate to movies about lonely and broken men, I now have a video about Buffalo '66 that is available on the channel: ukposts.info/have/v-deo/o2Bnk2t-fYSj0qs.html

Travis Bickle is the most relatable film character in history for me personally. I've struggled with loneliness my whole life. Loneliness really does erode away your mind. I talk to myself like crazy everywhere even in public. It's a coping mechanism for the loneliness. People look at me like I'm crazy. Its therapeutic for me. It's harder than people think to break free of loneliness. Once you become lonely, you get stuck in it. It hurts. UPDATE: 1K likes holy sht.

Because of how alienated our society is today.This movie is more relevant than ever.

Loneliness is not necessarily about being alone, it's the feeling of not being able to connect with anyone. You cen feel lonely even in a room full of people.

"A lot of taxi driver is Travis writing in his diary then going out and being weird to people" he's literally me.

I think it's very important to note that Travis' loneliness is much more subtle and psychological than it is physical or based on proximity to the other characters. He has friends he hangs out with, is able to hold down a full time job and is even able to charm Cybil Shepard and take her out on a date. He is a self sufficient individual able to afford to support himself and isn't some weak pushover as he's actually capable of defending himself. He is not a craven and actually I'm unsure if he ever truly shows fear at any point in the film. What makes him such a tragic character is his loneliness and hopelessness IN SPITE of those factors, because he is unable to truly connect with or understand people, nor they him or he himself. I also love how NYC itself seems to be an ironic metaphor for human loneliness and isolation; there is nothing more lonely than an overpopulated city.

Looking back I love how he can have a whole apartment to himself with just like, a job in New York 😂

"Loneliness has distanced him so far from reality" - this hits home for many. People forget how to truly interact and end up feeding into their own narratives of sadness and defeats...

What’s so captivating about taxi driver for me is Robert De Niro’s performance. In that movie, Travis Pickle doesn’t feel like a role some actor is performing, it feels like watching an actual person go through life struggles. To embody a character so well Robert must have been able to relate to the character in a deep level.

His loneliness has distanced himself so far from reality, that his loneliness ends up being the reason he cannot have what he wants - that's deep man, real deep. And I know I don't just speak for myself.

Loneliness is kind of wierd. On one end I’m comfortable and actually happy being alone because I don’t set expectations with anyone. Yet, on the other end sometimes I do just want to feel like the comfort and joy of stability with individuals. It’s almost as if my child version wants the love never received, my teenage self wants revenge and my adult self wants peace. However, seeing Travis be so pathetic makes me want to not put myself through that again.

I wish people would talk more about the incredibly deep shame that comes with being unable to connect and have healthy relationships with others. It causes the individual to believe that there is something inherently wrong and bad about themselves, and because shame is one of the most painful emotions, a lot of people are unwilling to look at it or sit with it,, so they go through life a fraction of the human they could be. So instead of feeling and dealing with the shame, it drives many maladaptive and self-destructive behaviors that push others away further, thus reinforcing the idea that there is something wrong with oneself. Shame can ruin a person's life, and it can be a relief to turn that anger outwards onto others. It looks like Travis really hates other people, but really he hates them because he assumes they know there is something deeply wrong with him. He hates them because he can never ever feel safe with them, he is always diminishing himself, he is always afraid of rejection, he is always low in the social caste and thus falls through the cracks of the capitalist profit machine. There is a sickness in this world that manifests from being cast to the side, it is a sickness of shame. In fact, shame is what drives most mental disorders from PTSD to personality disorders. I think at the root of Travis' hatred, you'll find that deep shame. Me as a 26-year-old woman, despite having a significant other and some good people in my life, I resonate very much with Travis. I've been getting worse lately. I've thought of ending my life to spare others of my toxic influence. Dealing with this stuff is so much easier said than done, often it feels impossible. I am stuck in a hole, gazing up at people who are climbing mountains. I am in hell and everyone else is in paradise, and I'm very tired.

Being lonely bests dealing with narcissists

Travis is like that because he only sees the bad in the society. He cannot fit in to a group because he always finds the bad sides of people. His need of extreme security and certainty outweighs his need to fit in to a group. Loneliness doesn't stem from being alone, it stems from feeling like nobody understands you, it stems from feeling like you are an alien.

I grew up in a narcissistic family so when i moved out the ability to be alone was literally so euphoric just ordering pizza and watching a documentary about ancient rome on Saturday evening was so amazing it was all i needed to really love life. But being completely alone for prolonged periods isn't good just some even semi meaningful people to associate with is important.

Imagine a world where people cared about each other. Wouldn't that be nice?

I really like your analysis of Taxi Driver. Specifically the “if you gamble your happiness on your relationship with others rather than the relationship you have with yourself you're always going to have this self destructive sense of loneliness”

I've been an introvert my whole life. (A real introvert - someone who receives energy from being alone rather than being with others.) I've never had a problem talking to or approaching others. I've even been complemented many times on my listening skills, comedic style, empathy, and ability to give genuine advice. I've also been criticized for traits that I feel were a misunderstanding of how I feel I am (he's helping others because he wants something, he listens because he's nosy, he doesn't make as many mistakes, so he thinks he's better than others etc.) Even after trying to explain these away, they still come up from time to time. It only takes one person to start some rumor and have others go along with it even if those same people always got along with you. I feel lonely often. I try to keep myself busy with projects to deflect from these feelings because no matter how often I've attempted to transition my encounters with others to anything else, it never goes anywhere. I'm 32 and a part of me feels that people might think that I must be someone to avoid since I have no friends (social proof), but I honestly can't say what the reason is exactly.

the fact that i understand fully the emotions of characters tells me that i should probabily change something in my life

To be a man you have to learn how to be alone. It really is part lf life. Its lonely to be alone. But its when we are most at peace as well.

Loved the line about gambling your happiness on the actions of other rather than yourself. Great video man!!!

Great vid pal, taxi driver is one of the most important movies in my life

I am 23 and this movie is still super relatable to me.

This is such a well put together study on this iconic film. I love your personal insights too and think these lessons are really important especially in today's society. I've subscribed and look forward to watching more of your awesome work.

Damn dude, Ive never watched this movie but now I feel like I need to.

Amazing video, dude! Keep on it! Such deep and accurate analysis of the film deserves lots of subs 👏

Wow what an amazing synopsis. Was completely enthralled with the video. I think it was your personal connection to the film that made the video so entertaining. Great job!

one of my favorite movies, always love watching new interpretations on it. i’m shocked you watched it so young! i was 17 during my first viewing and it was insanee, can’t imagine it at 13! great video!!💯🔥

So nuts hearing you say you watched it at 13, and it changed your life and personal philosophies. I watched it after I had gone on my first tour to Iraq, and frankly I thought "Oh no, I can see the similarities of us modern veterans." Then I went on my second tour and after I came home again I became Travis, minus the violence and vigilante/hero complex. What we are exposed to can truly educate us and change us. If I had seen this before I ever enlisted maybe I would be someone completely different today. At the same time, if I had I wouldn't be like Travis in the way I think most people appreciate him. Not that I'm good or insightful, but I'd rather be a warrior in a garden, than a gardener in a war. Growing up is living with your trauma, and realizing you wouldn't have it any other way because, who else could I be?

But his loneliness is what saves a young girl from her pimp. Everybody else just ignores whats happening, but his alienation is what allows him to act outside of the sick norms hes surrounded by. Hes not a perfect character (clearly), but his mind doesnt deteriorate because of being alone, its because of how sick everything is. His biggest issue is his biggest virtue: hes not bound by rules of complacency "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."

Excellent video, thank you for creating it. As someone who has dealt with social rejection all my life I am only now, aged 40, making my peace with it rather than letting it consume me

This is such a good analogy of loneliness. Thank you ❤

Damn dude I randomly clicked on this but you really took me on a journey. This felt like a really fresh take on taxi driver in a sea of movie essays based on the literally me movies. Loved the meta-analysis, the self-awareness and the positive ending. Cheers

This was the video I needed at this very moment. Thank you.

Great analysis, definitely felt the pain 😢. The music is spot on as well to set the mood.

Thank you very much making this video! Your narration of this film really struck a chord in my mind. I was a loner in middle school, high school and technical-community college. Even in large crowds, I’d still get very lonely because it really does feel like I don’t belong anywhere with my personality. Quite striking to me how I could also relate with the main character Travis. I hold down a full time job, am not a pushover, but I don’t consume alcohol, pills and porn. However, I too also get frustrated with general society at times and also feel the pain of how there isn’t any “higher sense of purpose” in human life these days. And damn, I also get the feeling of “victimhood” too at times. Just a re-occurring thought that keeps on coming up in my mind throughout the day when I’m awake… At the end of all this, what really kept me going was and still is, my trust in Christ and the teachings found in the bible. Truly, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the Holy Bible helping to guide me through my miserable (lonely) life that I’m existing in right now. God bless you if you made it this far!

Some people enjoy being by themselves. They're comfortable with their routines and their hobbies. They're almost misanthropes and really don't care for the company of others.

Loneliness maybe, but not being a self chosen solitary man

I love being alone. People in this world are awful. When I get off work I just don't want to see anybody. I live a peaceful drama free solitude life.

“That mechanism of not having what you can get (Betsy) and not wanting what you have (Iris) is the mechanism of loneliness” - Paul Schrader (Screenwriter of Taxi Driver)

I’ve always heard of this movie but have never seen it nor knew the significance. Fantastic video. Subbed. Hope to see more content!

What makes me keep going is that, from tine to time i glimpse into some people who are actually nice and im just glad that kind of people exist in this world, but still, i can only stare at them for a few instants before im alone again

When I watched this movie for the first time I was living in a one room set at the top floor I used to go outside just to eat and I had been doing the same thing for 5-6 month as I'm not that extrovert I didn't had much friends and it was after my college so many of friends had left the city for further education and only one friend was left in my locality but he was a busy man so i was not meeting him everyday,as I used to play football for my college team being fit was my priority so I was doing all the exercises in my room.when I first watched that movie it was so relatable and hypnotic and I always like to live in solitude so watching this was more relatable then ever before and I thought It is the best movie I have ever watched but I never watched it again because I don't want this to become boring, this movie is like a special occasion wine that you don't drink to often.

Very thorough take on a cinematic masterpiece. It was a pleasure watching and I hope you’re good.

Hey, I found this from letterboxd. Great analysis! I never thought of the framing of Taxi Driver like that, especially in the first scene you talked about!!

the loneliness i've experienced is something that i've for so long sought to "redeem" like i can somehow reconcile the suffering of the past, that this wound can be healed, but i've never found the remedy i seek, only fleeting temporary distractions from the problem. i try my best to do kind acts and talk with people, attend events, but no matter how much i've ever done of that, nothing has been truly gained. my life has not changed in a way that has at all brought me any kind of solace, i go home at the end of the day just as lonely as i always have, and as time continues on i feel as though i'm chasing something unattainable, like i'm cursed.

I happen to enjoy my time alone and do what I feel like doing with my free time. I had long and short term relationships and I appreciate them, but learning to be emotionally independent of anyone is very beneficial.

Great video. Thank You. All that time you spent making it was worth it.

Incredible analysis. I never really liked the movie but I’m excited to rewatch it after this.

Best video I’ve seen in a while. Beautifully done.

I’ve been alone my entire life evn in my own family I like it to be honest all I need is to be out in nature

Great analysis on this masterpiece of a movie 👏

Needed this today, great insight, for real.

Good analysis of the film. Definitely one of my favorites

This channel is gonna have hundreds of thousands of subs one day, great work! 🙏🏻

I promise at least 80% of Uber and Lyft drivers can relate to Travis

Hey man, came from letterboxd as well. Great analysis and beautiful video. Excited to see what else you cook up on this channel

That was awesome, thank you 🤘🏿

Great video, I was extremely surprised to see that you only have 413 subs. I thought for sure you would have at least 100K. Keep up the good work!

I've never heard anyone talk about a movie this way 😂 dude is obsessed this is more than an introspection on the film this is insanity lmao

I have been so painfully aware of my own loneliness recently and it’s really been bothering me. I don’t know why I thought searching ‘Taxi Driver loneliness’ would have made me feel any better, but I guess there’s possibly comfort to be taken from the not feeling lonely in your loneliness aspect if others feel the same… I don’t know. What an important and painfully relevant movie now, in 1976 and for as long as humans walk the earth. Thanks for making the video.

He has friends, he's not as lonely as me but I admire his courage and his good humanitarian side even in that messy heavy lifestyle and his wishes to help others who were struggling too

This may be the best Taxi Diver video essay I’ve seen. And trust me I’ve seen allot

great video, great movies like this invite rewatching and get better and better upon more thinking about it. just like you show with character decisions, lighting, angles, costumes, everything. it all has something behind it and paints a deep, and real picture.

hi man i'am from your letterboxd comment, so happy to see this great community. I really love cinema and one of my favorite directors is Martin Scorsese, one of the things I also enjoy is watching video essays about films, I think it's just great to see what other people think about the meaning of the film. I saw you also watched the Ghibli film Spirited Away, I really like Ghibli films, they are very special to me personally, love to see your video essay on Ghibli films :D

Speaking from experience, when a person feels lonely/unable to genuinely connect with anyone for a long time, they start to feel that they are fundimentally unlovable. That there is something *deeply* wrong with them. And over time they feel resentfull because these people usually aren't blind to the world around them in fact , like Travis, they're highly perceptive. The problem is that all that perception is focused on the idea that the people around them "know" how "broken" they are on the inside. How small they feel in a world that's too big for its own good and that they are or will be judged for it every time they interact with someone. This, on top of alredy likely exhibiting antisocial behaviours, causes them to HATE other people almost as much as they hate themselves.

Great video, man. I was very young when I watched this movie. Made me wanna rewatch and analyze it. I didn't know Taxi Driver was this deep.

I got diagnosed with schizotypical personality disorder when I searched fictional characters with stpd Travis bickle popped up along with Willy Wonka. I watched taxi for the First time and jaw dropped because of how relatable he was to me (well I don't carry a gun around that is or hurt) but his character and the way he carries himself is like watching myself. yes I have the same temperament, thought patterns and oddness it was one big mirror for me

wonderful analysis. I would never watch this film because of the violence, which would get indelibly stuck in my consciousness, but I feel like I've taken in the most important aspects of it through your video.

Great video. Keep up the good work

You’re explaining my exact thoughts of this movie and I never finished it cause it related too much to me and my actions as of recently. Spot on dude.

I never heard of this movie, I’m gonna watch it now! Thanks for sharing

watching taxi driver while having not had any meaningful social contact in months while your friends drive away from you at all turns despite you desperately trying to keep them and just giving up eventually goes hard

That was way deeper than i thought while trying to sleep at 3am on the couch with a stiff neck. Welldone m8

It's not loneliness alone that creates people like Travis. It is mainly the environment in which he is lonely. Travis is right, the city is a rotten mess and he sees it every single day as a taxi driver - does that legitimize him taking things into his own hands and putting innocent lifes at risk - no. But you can definitely empathize with his spite for the city and the people living in it and the amount of heartfelt that is present when he tells the politicians in the taxi that they ought clean up the entire mess. When you create an environment that makes already mentally unstable and lonely people feel not only isolated, but actively disgusted and vengeful towards their fellow human beings, you are setting up a catapult/leverage that is going to snap, sooner or later. Sure Travis could have gone out more, went to church or searched for more friends. But that's not going to change the environment that he and everyone else has to endure, which itself takes a toll on perfectly healthy people.

The first minute cut hits home so much, somehow. When you're oppressed by the feelings of loneliness and absence of purpose, you can't really share that with anyone, because even if you find the right words, they are not getting accross, because people you're talking with are not there with you and just blank out, and even if they understand, nothing they can say will make it better, nor are they responsible for what is in your head - at the end of the day, the only people that are capable to truly care (as opposed to pretending to either because they need something from you or so that you leave them alone) are your family - and that if you are lucky.

I enjoyed your explanation and exploration of Travis in Taxi Driver.

My dad said I'm basically Travis Bickle, then i realized he basically called me insane

Taxi Driver has changed for me as I've aged. The creator of this video will view Travis differently again when he gets older. I'm 43 & viewing Travis as a younger guy has been a trip.

I dnt think Travis survived that shoot out....I think Travis died...his spirit lifted as the camera pointed downward over viewing the scene. Even if he miracously survived after getting shot and blooded up...he would of been in jail not back out their driving. The woman was too angelic in the back of his cab...more than likely that was his last mental vision or his euphoria vision...or his "HELL" in driving around in NYC at nights in cabs for eternity.. picking up the girl who dissed him every night without it going Any further... The speed and imagery kinda shifted when she got out the back of the cab..almost seemed spooky...not real...he doesn't even see his own reflection in the rear view mirror..but saw hers... He is dead

You are underrated. keep up the good work.

I'm a fan of Taxi Driver since I'm 13 and it helped me A LOT to analyze myself and be aware of not letting my personality go dark places. I'm 21 now but still pretty alienated from interaction with other people, trying to get over it but at the same time just learning to enjoy loneliness too

Strangely enough I have a girlfriend, friends and family yet still feel enough loneliness to relate to Travis Bickle. It's not about physically being alone it is feeling disconnected, misunderstood and unheard at all times, even when surrounded by people who love you. It is something to overcome and transcend though, not wallow in like Travis.

Real man clad im seeing you grow

Loneliness is bad but solitude is bliss. You have to be ok with yourself. We are born alone and we die alone. Facts.

This was really Good Video 🙌

Excellent, excellent video. Love the channel name as well, I’ve subbed.

Great video and analysis, brother

I think my biggest luxury in the second half of my life has been living alone. I'm always in good company. I'm always on the same page as myself. Feeling lonely only happens when I am around people. I don't think I'm a psycho. You'll have to ask my dog.

Great analysis! You have earned a subscriber!

What a first class youtube video. You've succinctly dissected the interpersonal mechanisms and social dynamics while blocking in relevant scenes along with just enough soundtrack to pull it all along. Good job.

Excellent analysis, subscribed.

great analysis keep it up

Awesome breakdown 🙌🏻🙌🏻

Hey man. Followed your link. Great video essay!! I actually learnt a couple of things. And now I need to watch Pick Pocket and The Searchers to help with my The Batman essay I'm writing.

God Bless You Friend!

great video mate

great video, I always wondering about the racial element in the film and you just gave me a new perspective on that.

I've seen so many ppl imprisoned within themselves. When those bars slam shut in their mind and they spend the nights in frightening isolation. Anxious for when the sun goes down and they know they'll find themselves alone again in a never ending night. Within a torture chamber of their thoughts. Alone. No escape. The shackles of lost love, and loneliness chained around them, the shadows of sadness looming ever menacing over their shoulders. Scrambling frantically, searching for the key to unlock the prison they unknowingly built around themselves. Nothing but another bleak dawn to greet them, and the passing day leading them down that dark passage to another night of lonely torment. Tired of trying to fight the good fight, tired of looking for the good things to hold on to to keep from going mad. I've seen so many ppl imprisoned within themselves. When those bars slam shut in their mind and they spend the nights in frightening isolation. I see it in me the morning's mirror.

Well done video and wise quote at the end as a 19 yo who feels that exact same way and sees the world exactly like you said and bases happiness on relationship with external things rather than myself, this helped, seeing the world really different and I start wondering most of the times what it feels to be average and just doing other teenager stuff and what it feels to like it but I really can't fit