professional redemption

His films consistently explore morally compromised protagonists seeking redemption through their professions, most notably in Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and The Departed.

His works examine how individuals rebuild their lives and find meaning through work and craft after personal or societal trauma, particularly in The Assassin and Millennium Mambo.

His narratives center on professionals confronting ethical dilemmas in their work and seeking moral restoration, as seen in A Separation and The Salesman.