Three-time Oscar-winning film editor and esteemed collaborator of director Martin Scorsese, Thelma Schoonmaker, graced the Edinburgh International Film Festival on Sunday. During the event, she delved into the remarkable life and career of her late husband, Michael Powell.
Over decades, Schoonmaker has collaborated on an impressive 22 films with Scorsese, earning Academy Awards for her work on **Raging Bull** (1981), **The Aviator** (2005), and **The Departed** (2007). Her connection with Powell, forged through Scorsese, saw her become deeply engaged with his cinematic legacy. Scorsese’s admiration for Powell and his collaborative partner Emeric Pressburger blossomed into a strong friendship, with Scorsese playing a pivotal role in the restoration of Powell’s films.
“When I first started working with Scorsese, he immediately started giving me Powell and Pressburger films to watch at home at night,” Schoonmaker recalled in a conversation with producer Emma Boa at the event. “Scorsese had been bringing Michael to America… He said, ‘You love his films. Would you like to meet him?’ And I said, ‘Oh, yes, I would.’ So I had dinner with Marty and Michael, and it was astounding, because Michael—his face was so interesting. He didn’t say much, but when he did, it was very powerful. Nobody ever expected us to get married.”
She and Powell were married from 1984 until his passing at age 84 in 1990. The duo’s distinguished filmography includes classics such as **The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp** (1943), **I Know Where I’m Going!** (1945), and **The Red Shoes** (1948).
Reflecting on Powell’s bond with Scorsese, Schoonmaker expressed her gratitude for the unwavering friendship. “When Michael died, not one British director came to his funeral. Bernardo Bertolucci came, and Martin Scorsese flew across the Atlantic to be there and throw the first clump of dirt on Michael’s grave. Their friendship was remarkable,” she noted. Schoonmaker recalled a moment when Powell approached her about Scorsese’s struggles with **Goodfellas**: “Marty’s really upset ’cause he can’t sell **Goodfellas**. Can you imagine? The studios were insisting he remove the drug content. Scorsese argued, ‘The story of **Goodfellas** is the drugs. I can’t take it out.’”
Schoonmaker recounted how, after reading the script to Powell, he encouraged her to call Scorsese. “Michael said to me, ‘Get Marty on the phone.’ So I did. He told Marty, ‘You have to make this movie. It’s the best script I’ve read in 20 years. You have to make it.’”
In her continued efforts to preserve Powell’s legacy, Schoonmaker is currently working on publishing his diaries—some of which address his experiences in theater directing—utilizing AI technology. “We’re using AI with the diaries… We have people read the diary from Michael’s handwriting, because publishers prefer it to be in print, not in handwriting,” she explained.
“It takes a lot of people to do it, and I have very dear friends who I can trust. He actually wrote these diaries for his mother, which is fascinating, and he details aspects of his personal life that I will remove because he didn’t want them published. I aim to selectively publish only the insights that contribute to film history.”
Schoonmaker further explored the complexities of Powell and Pressburger’s professional relationship, emphasizing how they faced significant challenges within the British film industry. “Emeric was more attuned to the struggles of the industry and sought solutions, but Michael remained committed to his artistic vision. They endured nearly two decades of obscurity, during which their brilliance was largely overlooked, leaving Michael quite broke,” she elaborated.
With poise, Schoonmaker responded to a range of inquiries about Powell’s upbringing, his adjustment to life in New York, and the impact of his artistry on her approach to editing. She shared a cherished memory of Powell, stating, “I think just his love of life influenced everything. His daily experience was shaped by the weather, the light outside, what he was cooking. He knew how to extract the best from every moment, and that made living with him a true joy.”
The Edinburgh International Film Festival 2025 is set to run from August 14-20.
Based on reporting by Hollywood Reporter. Read the full story at Hollywood Reporter.