October 13, 2025

Protected:

MAESTRO (2023) – AFI Movie Club

Directed by – and starring – Bradley Cooper and photographed by AFI Alum Matthew Libatique (AFI Class of 1992), MAESTRO (2023) was recognized in the year of its release with an AFI AWARD, naming it among the most outstanding motion pictures of year. According to the official rationale, “MAESTRO commands the rapturous applause of a global audience – and then pauses in profound silence to consider the role of ‘performance’ in both art and life. It is time for Bradley Cooper to take his well-earned bow – both for his insightful, incisive direction and for his transformative performance as Leonard Bernstein. And a billion bravas to Carey Mulligan, who raises the film to high art by embodying the complexities of marriage – and love – and life.”