It’s filmmaker Martin Scorsese’s belief that cinema is about what’s seen and what’s hidden. What a director chooses to show and what they leave out shapes a story’s meaning. This deliberate choice generates tension and guides audience emotions. Scorsese’s own films demonstrate this principle. The unseen can often be more impactful than the visible.
Movies are constantly recalled as what appears on the screen the actors, the dialogue, the action. But Martin Scorsese’s quote, is “Movie is a matter of what’s in the frame and what’s out,” reminds us that movie is just as much about absence as it is about presence. In simple terms, the quote says that what a filmmaker chooses to show, and what they choose to hide, shapes how a story feels and what it means. This idea sits at the heart of great filmmaking, where every shot is a deliberate decision.
At its core, this quote highlights the power of choice in cinema. The “frame” is the visible world the director presents to the audience. Everything inside it is intentional: the characters, the lighting, the movement, and even the silence. But what lies outside the frame can be just as powerful. When something is left unseen, the audience fills in the gaps with their imagination, emotions, and personal experiences.
This approach creates tension, mystery, and meaning. A character looking off-screen can suggest danger without showing it. A quiet room can feel heavy if we sense something terrible has just happened elsewhere. By excluding certain details, filmmakers guide viewers toward specific emotions without spelling everything out. Scorsese’s quote suggests that cinema is not about excess explanation, but about careful control of attention. What we don’t see can often linger longer in our minds than what we do.
News Edit KV Raman
