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Conversations on Faith
A new and original work from the legendary Martin Scorsese, in which he and Father Antonio Spadaro discuss the visionary director's relationship to faith throughout his life.
When Italian journalist Father Antonio Spadaro and Martin Scorsese first sat down together in Scorsese’s home, neither could have predicted depth of the conversation, intellectual exchange, or friendship that would result. While discussing the acclaimed director’s film Silence, about the persecution of Jesuits in Japan, they began a dialogue about faith that continues to this day.
From his Italian-American upbringing as a Catholic in New York to the meditations on religion, belief, and the divine found in his filmography, Scorsese’s relationship to his faith has touched every aspect of his life and work. In their often-profound conversations, he and Father Spadaro have left no stone unturned, discussing this relationship along with everything from Scorsese’s childhood to the concept of the soul. And as a result of their long friendship and communication, Scorsese met with Pope Francis. Readers will gain new insight into one of the most famous directors of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in these honest, moving, and ultimately inspiring CONVERSATIONS ON FAITH.
When Italian journalist Father Antonio Spadaro and Martin Scorsese first sat down together in Scorsese’s home, neither could have predicted depth of the conversation, intellectual exchange, or friendship that would result. While discussing the acclaimed director’s film Silence, about the persecution of Jesuits in Japan, they began a dialogue about faith that continues to this day.
From his Italian-American upbringing as a Catholic in New York to the meditations on religion, belief, and the divine found in his filmography, Scorsese’s relationship to his faith has touched every aspect of his life and work. In their often-profound conversations, he and Father Spadaro have left no stone unturned, discussing this relationship along with everything from Scorsese’s childhood to the concept of the soul. And as a result of their long friendship and communication, Scorsese met with Pope Francis. Readers will gain new insight into one of the most famous directors of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in these honest, moving, and ultimately inspiring CONVERSATIONS ON FAITH.
- GenresNonfiction
144 pages, Hardcover
Published November 4, 2025
14 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Martin Scorsese
117 books140 followersMartin Marcantonio Luciano Scorsese is an American Academy Award-winning film director, writer, and producer. Also affectionately known as "Marty", he is the founder of the World Cinema Foundation and a recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award for his contributions to the cinema and has won awards from the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Directors Guild of America. Scorsese is president of the Film Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to film preservation and the prevention of the decaying of motion picture film stock.
Scorsese's body of work addresses such themes as Italian American identity, Roman Catholic concepts of guilt and redemption, machismo, and the violence endemic in American society. Scorsese is widely considered to be one of the most significant and influential American filmmakers of his era.[3] He earned an MFA in film directing from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
Scorsese's body of work addresses such themes as Italian American identity, Roman Catholic concepts of guilt and redemption, machismo, and the violence endemic in American society. Scorsese is widely considered to be one of the most significant and influential American filmmakers of his era.[3] He earned an MFA in film directing from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 8, 2025
Found the first interview engaging and enlightening, especially how he described the influence of Fr. Principe on his early life and faith. But the rest was just alright - better to borrow from the library than buy if you’re interested in reading it.
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November 18, 2025Scorsese on being locked up during the pandemic: "If I couldn't make my movie, then who was I?"
That’s the kind of obsession you want from an artist. Today, too many seem attuned to the noise of modern life. Be wary of any so-called artists who talk like entrepreneurs. It’s not about money. It’s never about money. It’s about the need to create and nothing else. It wasn't lack of funding for a film (Scorsese has found all sorts of ways of getting his films made); it was the fear that he couldn't make a film; that the forces against him would finally be too strong.
Surprisingly, there is a script written by Scorsese for a short film at the end of this book, an insightful look into his thinking before getting celluloid involved. "It's not a matter of looking for answers or making statements," voice over reads in the script. "We're trying to create something like life as its lived... to give form to... what? To this inexplicable mystery, always changing."
This is why his films are so poignant. He's always telling it like it is. His films are honest. Not didactic. But in the mirror he holds up, you are forced to confront the harsher realities lurking all around us. And in that there is a lesson.
That’s the kind of obsession you want from an artist. Today, too many seem attuned to the noise of modern life. Be wary of any so-called artists who talk like entrepreneurs. It’s not about money. It’s never about money. It’s about the need to create and nothing else. It wasn't lack of funding for a film (Scorsese has found all sorts of ways of getting his films made); it was the fear that he couldn't make a film; that the forces against him would finally be too strong.
Surprisingly, there is a script written by Scorsese for a short film at the end of this book, an insightful look into his thinking before getting celluloid involved. "It's not a matter of looking for answers or making statements," voice over reads in the script. "We're trying to create something like life as its lived... to give form to... what? To this inexplicable mystery, always changing."
This is why his films are so poignant. He's always telling it like it is. His films are honest. Not didactic. But in the mirror he holds up, you are forced to confront the harsher realities lurking all around us. And in that there is a lesson.
December 20, 2025
This was very disappointing for me; while I found the first interview pretty interesting [and the interview where he went into the making of Killers of the Flower Moon as that was truly amazing and kept me fully engaged], the rest of them were this weird amalgamation of trying to justify the violence in his movies with his love and trying to portray Jesus/Faith and it was all was just so odd and overall, it just mostly fell flat for me and I was left with a rather bad taste so to speak.
I was invited to read/review this by the publisher [Grand Central Publishing] and I thank them, the authors and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was invited to read/review this by the publisher [Grand Central Publishing] and I thank them, the authors and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2025
Scorsese on the violence in his films:
“. . . I am obsessed by the spiritual. I’m obsessed by the question of what we are. And that means looking at us closely, the good and the bad. Can we nurture the good so that at some future point in the evolution of mankind, violence will, possibly, cease to exist? Maybe. But right now, violence is here. It’s something that we do. It’s important to show that, so that one doesn’t make the mistake of thinking that violence is something that others do—that ‘violent people’ do. ‘I could never do that, of course.’ Well, actually, you could.”
“. . . I am obsessed by the spiritual. I’m obsessed by the question of what we are. And that means looking at us closely, the good and the bad. Can we nurture the good so that at some future point in the evolution of mankind, violence will, possibly, cease to exist? Maybe. But right now, violence is here. It’s something that we do. It’s important to show that, so that one doesn’t make the mistake of thinking that violence is something that others do—that ‘violent people’ do. ‘I could never do that, of course.’ Well, actually, you could.”
November 19, 2025
I love Scorsese and I probably would have had a better experience if I had watched the movies specifically referenced in this, but overall I expected more and felt a bit meh about it. Might give it another go in the future after watching Silence
October 13, 2025
I found Conversations on Faith to be a quietly powerful, deeply human exploration of what it means to wrestle with belief, doubt, and purpose. What I loved most was that this wasn’t just a surface level interview or a celebrity soundbite about religion. Instead, it was a genuine exchange between Martin Scorsese and Father Antonio Spadaro that felt raw, reflective, and meaningful.
The fact that Scorsese met and spoke with Pope Francis made the book even more special for me. I’ve always felt like Pope Francis embodied the very best of what faith can be: kindness, humility, and love for all. He was not just a religious figure, but a genuinely good man who lived simply and sought to understand others rather than judge them. That sense of compassion and humanity carries through the entire book, and it’s honestly refreshing in a world where religion so often divides instead of unites.
I’ll admit, I’m not a religious person anymore. I grew up in a very religious household, but my relationship with faith has evolved over time. Still, I’ve always admired open, thoughtful conversations like this, ones that invite you to question, to feel, to reflect. Scorsese and Spadaro do exactly that. Their discussions challenge what faith means on both a personal and universal level, and they remind us that even those who’ve achieved incredible worldly success are still searching for meaning, connection, and peace.
I was especially fascinated by how Scorsese connects his spirituality to his art. You can really see how his films, which are so often about sin, redemption, and moral struggle, reflect his lifelong dialogue with faith. Reading about his internal process and how deeply personal those themes are to him gave me a new appreciation for his work as a director.
At its heart, Conversations on Faith is less about religion itself and more about being human, like how we search for purpose, how we make peace with our pasts, and how we try to love and understand others along the way. I finished it feeling both grounded and inspired, wishing more of us could have conversations like this: open, respectful, and full of curiosity rather than certainty.
A truly fascinating and moving read, no matter where you fall on the spectrum of belief.
Thank you to NetGalley, Martin Scorsese, and Grand Central Publishing for the eARC of this book.
The fact that Scorsese met and spoke with Pope Francis made the book even more special for me. I’ve always felt like Pope Francis embodied the very best of what faith can be: kindness, humility, and love for all. He was not just a religious figure, but a genuinely good man who lived simply and sought to understand others rather than judge them. That sense of compassion and humanity carries through the entire book, and it’s honestly refreshing in a world where religion so often divides instead of unites.
I’ll admit, I’m not a religious person anymore. I grew up in a very religious household, but my relationship with faith has evolved over time. Still, I’ve always admired open, thoughtful conversations like this, ones that invite you to question, to feel, to reflect. Scorsese and Spadaro do exactly that. Their discussions challenge what faith means on both a personal and universal level, and they remind us that even those who’ve achieved incredible worldly success are still searching for meaning, connection, and peace.
I was especially fascinated by how Scorsese connects his spirituality to his art. You can really see how his films, which are so often about sin, redemption, and moral struggle, reflect his lifelong dialogue with faith. Reading about his internal process and how deeply personal those themes are to him gave me a new appreciation for his work as a director.
At its heart, Conversations on Faith is less about religion itself and more about being human, like how we search for purpose, how we make peace with our pasts, and how we try to love and understand others along the way. I finished it feeling both grounded and inspired, wishing more of us could have conversations like this: open, respectful, and full of curiosity rather than certainty.
A truly fascinating and moving read, no matter where you fall on the spectrum of belief.
Thank you to NetGalley, Martin Scorsese, and Grand Central Publishing for the eARC of this book.
November 19, 2025
This book features a series of six conversations between Mr. Scorsese and Antonio Spadaro, all centered on faith. Martin Scorsese is a renowned actor and director. Antonio Spadaro is an Italian Jesuit theologian. During the first conversation, Scorsese defines his religious beliefs as Christian, Roman Catholic by baptism. He believes the tenets of the Catholic church suit his view of God and religion best. Each of these conversations centers around Scorsese's faith and life experiences.
It is significant to note that in each script he writes, his central characters have an experience involving faith. It might not be overt to the viewer, but it is part of the movie's message. I found his revelation surprising, and I realized that I need to rewatch his films. Maybe I was looking at these movies too superficially.
Each conversation is deeply thought-provoking. I am a very quick reader; however, this time I took time to read and reflect on each conversation. Sometimes I agreed with or understood Scorsese's points; other times I found myself disagreeing. I would advise readers to take this approach, slow life down enough to enjoy this book. I appreciated the opportunity this book afforded me to clarify my thoughts on faith.
My takeaway is that Scorsese lives a life rooted in faith. It is a part of who he is and what he creates.
I am glad I read this book. My gratitude to Grand Central Publishing for offering the book, and my heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Scorsese and Mr. Spadaro for sharing these conversations.
It is significant to note that in each script he writes, his central characters have an experience involving faith. It might not be overt to the viewer, but it is part of the movie's message. I found his revelation surprising, and I realized that I need to rewatch his films. Maybe I was looking at these movies too superficially.
Each conversation is deeply thought-provoking. I am a very quick reader; however, this time I took time to read and reflect on each conversation. Sometimes I agreed with or understood Scorsese's points; other times I found myself disagreeing. I would advise readers to take this approach, slow life down enough to enjoy this book. I appreciated the opportunity this book afforded me to clarify my thoughts on faith.
My takeaway is that Scorsese lives a life rooted in faith. It is a part of who he is and what he creates.
I am glad I read this book. My gratitude to Grand Central Publishing for offering the book, and my heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Scorsese and Mr. Spadaro for sharing these conversations.
November 9, 2025
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the gifted copy!
“Vocatus atque non vocatus deus aderit.” -Carl Jung (Called or not called, God will come.)
A compelling, honest conversation between Father Antonio Spadaro and Martin Scorsese. They discussed questions I’ve also pondered. Purpose. Forgiveness. Humanity. Suffering. Evil. Hope. Conversations on Faith is both thoughtful and thought provoking. Honest and insightful.
I also found it fascinating learning about Martin’s upbringing, his asthma that kept him quite isolated, and how it may have propelled his career (just my opinion). So much time spent in his own head to wonder. Time intensely observing human behavior, absorbing. Then consciously peeling back the layers, the good and bad. Reviewing everything that essentially makes us humans. Our surroundings but more importantly, our choices. His obsession with the spiritual definitely ignited this curiosity that bled into his work. As a fan, reading about how this impacted his films was so interesting.
Another passage that stood out and I can’t stop thinking about: “Even today, after the second failure of another world war, perhaps one can speak of a third war, one fought piecemeal, with crimes, massacres, destruction." Pope Francis
My takeaway: every moment is a teachable moment. Jesus is within all of us, urging us to act from love, and you can find him if you open your heart to others.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Vocatus atque non vocatus deus aderit.” -Carl Jung (Called or not called, God will come.)
A compelling, honest conversation between Father Antonio Spadaro and Martin Scorsese. They discussed questions I’ve also pondered. Purpose. Forgiveness. Humanity. Suffering. Evil. Hope. Conversations on Faith is both thoughtful and thought provoking. Honest and insightful.
I also found it fascinating learning about Martin’s upbringing, his asthma that kept him quite isolated, and how it may have propelled his career (just my opinion). So much time spent in his own head to wonder. Time intensely observing human behavior, absorbing. Then consciously peeling back the layers, the good and bad. Reviewing everything that essentially makes us humans. Our surroundings but more importantly, our choices. His obsession with the spiritual definitely ignited this curiosity that bled into his work. As a fan, reading about how this impacted his films was so interesting.
Another passage that stood out and I can’t stop thinking about: “Even today, after the second failure of another world war, perhaps one can speak of a third war, one fought piecemeal, with crimes, massacres, destruction." Pope Francis
My takeaway: every moment is a teachable moment. Jesus is within all of us, urging us to act from love, and you can find him if you open your heart to others.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 26, 2025
I received this book as a Christmas gift and read it in two sittings. It’s a slim volume, but it lingers—thought-provoking in quiet, lasting ways.
What struck me the most was Scorsese’s meditation on violence—not as spectacle, but as something to be shown in its raw, unvarnished truth. He argues that only by confronting violence without stylisation can we begin to understand it, and maybe move beyond it. The idea of embracing the reality of violence as a step toward peace felt, to me, strangely odd—but also deeply wise.
Equally powerful was his reflection on mercy. Scorsese rejects the idea of forgiveness as a transaction. Instead, he sees Christ as a presence that lives within us—always inviting, never coercing. Redemption is always possible, but it must be chosen. His example of Jake LaMotta from Raging Bull was especially poignant because he’s not damned by God, but by his own inability to show mercy to himself. It made me wonder: how much of our suffering comes not from divine judgement, but from our own refusal to forgive ourselves?
This isn’t a theological treatise. It’s an intimate conversation about searching and perception—about how we wrestle with faith, guilt, and weight of our own stories. If you’ve ever found yourself between belief and doubt, or wondered whether mercy is something you must earn or simply receive, you might find something here that stays with you.
What struck me the most was Scorsese’s meditation on violence—not as spectacle, but as something to be shown in its raw, unvarnished truth. He argues that only by confronting violence without stylisation can we begin to understand it, and maybe move beyond it. The idea of embracing the reality of violence as a step toward peace felt, to me, strangely odd—but also deeply wise.
Equally powerful was his reflection on mercy. Scorsese rejects the idea of forgiveness as a transaction. Instead, he sees Christ as a presence that lives within us—always inviting, never coercing. Redemption is always possible, but it must be chosen. His example of Jake LaMotta from Raging Bull was especially poignant because he’s not damned by God, but by his own inability to show mercy to himself. It made me wonder: how much of our suffering comes not from divine judgement, but from our own refusal to forgive ourselves?
This isn’t a theological treatise. It’s an intimate conversation about searching and perception—about how we wrestle with faith, guilt, and weight of our own stories. If you’ve ever found yourself between belief and doubt, or wondered whether mercy is something you must earn or simply receive, you might find something here that stays with you.
November 22, 2025
Reflecting on this book, I have to honestly say that I don’t think it has wide appeal; I feel like the readers who would appreciate it most are either going to be Scorsese fans or readers who enjoy intellectual curiosity surrounding the spiritual.
But if you are one of those readers (as I am), this book is a treasure. I went through my copy with a pen and underlined sentences that will stick with me. Scorsese’s film Silence is what I am primarily familiar with regarding his work and I remember discussing the film in relation to Endo’s book (on which it was based) in university. To learn how he approaches each of his other films (of which I am less familiar) in a similar way - getting to the heart of his characters’ relationship with their spiritual journey - was really interesting.
My favorite bits were hearing about Scorsese’s inspirations. I was so intrigued by his discussion surrounding Brother Lawrence that I bought the book Scorsese mentioned. I’m looking forward to diving into that one as deeply as Endo’s Silence. Those who admire Scorsese’s cinematic vision will have a list of older films to dive into with similar enthusiasm.
This is absolutely a book that you will want two copies of so you can give one to a friend you’d like to discuss with. Thank you SO much to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy!
But if you are one of those readers (as I am), this book is a treasure. I went through my copy with a pen and underlined sentences that will stick with me. Scorsese’s film Silence is what I am primarily familiar with regarding his work and I remember discussing the film in relation to Endo’s book (on which it was based) in university. To learn how he approaches each of his other films (of which I am less familiar) in a similar way - getting to the heart of his characters’ relationship with their spiritual journey - was really interesting.
My favorite bits were hearing about Scorsese’s inspirations. I was so intrigued by his discussion surrounding Brother Lawrence that I bought the book Scorsese mentioned. I’m looking forward to diving into that one as deeply as Endo’s Silence. Those who admire Scorsese’s cinematic vision will have a list of older films to dive into with similar enthusiasm.
This is absolutely a book that you will want two copies of so you can give one to a friend you’d like to discuss with. Thank you SO much to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy!
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December 26, 2025On Filmmaking and Faith is the UK version of the title, which I think is more descriptive (even if it sounds a bit obvious). It's a very short book. I am not a film buff nor Scorsese buff, and I think being the latter would enhance enjoyment of the book. I lacked too much context. Because it's so short it feels shallow on the filmmaking side and the faith side, plus it jumps around on topics with no thematic organization. If you like his films you might get some insight into them, especially through understanding him as a person.
"Jesus embraces all of humanity, and Jesus really is all of humanity. He's showing all of us the way, the way to be able to live, to deal with anger and vengeance and retribution, with love and forgiveness and redemption and everything else within us and between us. He shows us the way. It's not easy, as we all know. But he is the example for the multitudes, because he is all of us. That is what I see." -Scorsese
"Jesus embraces all of humanity, and Jesus really is all of humanity. He's showing all of us the way, the way to be able to live, to deal with anger and vengeance and retribution, with love and forgiveness and redemption and everything else within us and between us. He shows us the way. It's not easy, as we all know. But he is the example for the multitudes, because he is all of us. That is what I see." -Scorsese
November 26, 2025
Martin Scorsese is a brilliant director. I might not have seen all of his works, but those that I have seen, were magnificently done. I had no idea that Scorsese was such a religious man. Judging by a lot of his films, it is not overly obvious how much his faith plays into them. This book is written in a conversation approach, hence the title. A question is posed and then Scorsese gives his answer. Hearing his views gives a new perspective on him and opens up questions in the reader's own mind. It is a quick and easy read, but definitely worth the time.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of Conversations on Faith in the return of an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of Conversations on Faith in the return of an honest review.
November 13, 2025
A 2 hour 'book'? This is more of a podcast. Actually, the problem for me is knowing that in the mid 90's an acquaintance trying to make their way as into film was essentially propositioned / harassed by the erstwhile god-fearing penitent here that all of the holier-than-thou talk feels extremely hollow. I'm not calling out some type of me-too scenario and while I can separate the artist from their work (some of which I greatly appreciate), the holy-roller views here elicit a roll of the eyes. The worked up treatment at the end is really goofy as well.
November 27, 2025
For anyone who - like me - wishes Apple's Mr. Scorsese miniseries were longer, and particularly the first episode which dives more deeply into his upbringing and his religious grounding, I highly recommend stumbling across this book in a Barnes and Noble and sitting with it for the 45-50 minutes it takes to read.
I'd listen to Scorsese expound upon basically anything for as long as he felt the desire to continue speaking, and this is no exception. Truly moving, thought-provoking stuff, and I'm glad I picked it up the other day and spent the morning with it.
I'd listen to Scorsese expound upon basically anything for as long as he felt the desire to continue speaking, and this is no exception. Truly moving, thought-provoking stuff, and I'm glad I picked it up the other day and spent the morning with it.
December 25, 2025
Conversations on Faith by Scorsese is interesting. The man isn't deeply spiritual, but he retains some semblances of his upbringing and uses his periphery experiences to inform the faith expressed in his films.
Becoming a father and looking in the face of his almost dead daughter resonated with me.
Overall: The book is a conversation. It never seeks to find the final answer, nor does it claim to have the answers. Scorsese has the humbleness to not claim he knows. He only makes one claim: He creates and that's his calling.
Becoming a father and looking in the face of his almost dead daughter resonated with me.
Overall: The book is a conversation. It never seeks to find the final answer, nor does it claim to have the answers. Scorsese has the humbleness to not claim he knows. He only makes one claim: He creates and that's his calling.
December 6, 2025
I was curious about this book because I am curious about other people’s Faith journeys. Scorsese refers often to his film “Silence” and his film “The Last Temptation of Christ” in his conversation with the priest. In my opinion, his films are about people looking for, hoping for redemption.
December 8, 2025
Got this book for my dad for Christmas and thought I should read it since it’s so short! Interesting conversation on how faith has been a constant pillar for Martin and how it has intersected his work and his perspective on fame.
November 28, 2025
Sermon from the Lens
December 26, 2025
Found more an enjoyable quick overview of Scorsese more than anything else and made me want to watch more from him
December 26, 2025
If you are a fan of Scorsese, this is a must.
November 20, 2025
Um okay Martin!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews