What is Mean Streets about?

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Martin Scorsese smiling in a tuxedo and bow tie, holding an Oscar statuette at the Academy Awards, with a gold Oscar statue in the background. — Martin Scorsese American film director Martin Scorsese, 2008.

Released in 1973, Mean Streets is a boundary-breaking film directed by Martin Scorsese that is noted for its realistic detail and naturalistic performances. The story follows a small-time collector for the mob in Little Italy, played by Harvey Keitel, who struggles with guilt over his relationship with his girlfriend, Teresa, who has epilepsy. Simultaneously, he is frustrated by his inability to manage his dangerously unhinged friend, Johnny Boy, portrayed by Robert De Niro.1

The film is characterized by its atmospheric setting, rapid-fire dialogue, explosive violence, and the use of blaring rock music. It is considered a low-budget masterpiece that helped establish Scorsese’s reputation for his showy camera technique and raw, authentic storytelling.1