Asthma Fueled Scorsese's Cinematic Genius: New Documentary Explores Filmmaker's Lifelong Struggle

As of October 16th, 2025, a new five-part documentary series titled "Mr Scorsese" is set to premiere on Apple TV, exploring the life and work of legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese. The series delves into Scorsese's New York upbringing, including his lifelong struggle with severe asthma as a child.

Scorsese's asthma forced him to stay home and observe people through the glass panes of his window, while his parents took him to the cinema as often as possible, providing him with a steady supply of more easily breathable air. This early exposure to the world of cinema would go on to shape Scorsese's remarkable career, as he has since become one of the most influential directors of our time.

Despite his early success with films like "Mean Streets," "Taxi Driver," and "Raging Bull," the documentary reveals that Scorsese has faced numerous setbacks and failures throughout his career. From being yanked off the editing of the seminal documentary "Woodstock" to the infamous misfire of "New York, New York," Scorsese has had to redefine himself and pick himself up time and time again. Yet, it is this resilience and unwavering creative vision that has cemented his status as a cinematic giant.

The documentary also explores the dichotomy between Scorsese's Catholicism and his fascination with violence, a theme that has permeated much of his work, from the religious epics "The Last Temptation of Christ" and "Kundun" to the gritty crime dramas like "Taxi Driver" and "Casino." As the director's father suggests, Scorsese's films often grapple with the essential, metaphysical questions of good and evil, and the search for faith in a morally complex world.