The online discussion delved into how the themes and characters of Wajda's work influenced their approach to storytelling and character development.
Scorsese’s 2006 crime saga, "The Departed," which finally brought him Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director, apparently drew heavily from the moral complexities and character dynamics of Wajda's masterpiece, which the celebrated filmmaker also placed on his list of the top 15 films of all time for "Sight & Sound" magazine.
Scorsese explained: “Here’s this guy who’s stuck, [and] your character in The Departed is stuck in this shooting war that he didn’t plan on. He’s getting shot at. He doesn’t know why he’s there. All we know is that ultimately he’s trying to find out what’s right in this world with no morality of any kind. It’s ground zero.”
DiCaprio, portraying South Boston undercover police officer William “Billy” Costigan, Jr. in "The Departed," found inspiration in Zbigniew Cybulski’s portrayal of Maciek Chełmicki in the Polish classic. Cybulski, hailed as the "European James Dean" by Scorsese, exemplified the internal conflict and moral ambiguity that DiCaprio sought to embody in his role.
“You were very specific about wanting me to see that performance and the idea of [him] dealing with this moral conundrum of trying to figure out what’s right. The constant anxiety and internal tension that the lead character feels in that movie. I remember that was a big influence on me when making The Departed and playing Billy Costigan,” DiCaprio recalls.
The juxtaposition of Chełmicki's role as a young Home Army officer in "Ashes and Diamonds" and Costigan's undercover mission in "The Departed" sets out to illustrate the complex interplay of duty and morality. While Chełmicki is tasked with assassinating a communist leader, Costigan infiltrates Mafia structures, both characters trapped in a web of moral ambiguity and life-threatening danger.
Scorsese also mused on the tragic fate of Cybulski, comparing him to renowned Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni. Cybulski's untimely death at 39, in a tragic accident involving a train, cut short what Scorsese believes could have been a globally celebrated career.
Source: PAP, Letterboxd