Set deep within the trenches and back alleys of American independent film, Ferrara drills deep into the bedrock, probing fresh wounds and ancient scar tissue alike, emerging with a storied, practically unbelievable career in the pictures. Unbelievable that is, if belonging to anyone other than Abel Ferrara. The director of such masterworks as Bad Lieutenant, Ms. 45, King of New York and Tommaso, Ferrara has seen his fair share of devastating setbacks and miraculous triumphs,
The writer-director has spent the last three-plus decades turning out idiosyncratic independent films that portray their characters with such intimacy that it feels like the screen is offering a temporary gift of telepathy. Her work is known for its deliberate pace as well as its tight scale, though it should be just as acclaimed for its capacity to undermine expectations.
The last time I saw him, when he came to lunch, we discussed art and decided to send each other our first drawings. He was one of a kind and I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.
"To be honest with you, I didn't have confidence that I could do comedy well... I've done so many years of very serious roles that I was actually petrified, because comedy is really hard. You can't be saved."
