French director Gaspar Noé is renowned for his thought-provoking and frequently contentious works. One of his most well-known quotations highlights the complexity and lasting influence of Travis Bickle, who appeared in Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver."

Travis Bickle's profound psychological complexity and his ability to navigate a morally gray world are the main reasons Noé admires him. Travis, a disturbed Vietnam veteran in the film, is socially isolated, dealing with mental health problems, and experiencing loneliness. His persona offers a potent critique of personal crisis and societal disillusionment.

Because Bickle's journey reflects themes that run throughout Noé's own filmography—themes of existential despair, the pursuit of meaning in an uncaring world, and the effects of trauma on mental health—Noé can relate to it. Characters in Noé's films, like Travis, frequently struggle with intense personal issues and social pressures.

To make a comparison, picture someone stranded in a stormy sea and forced to negotiate raging waves by themselves. Gaspar Noé identifies with Travis Bickle because both characters face their harsh realities and work to comprehend their place in an often cruel world, much as this person would find comfort and understanding in another's similar journey.

Noé illustrates how certain movie characters can represent larger human experiences through his admiration for Travis Bickle. Long after the film concludes, audiences are still moved by the character's complexity and tenacity, which spark conversations about mental health, social issues, and personal growth.