Paul Schrader Tears Up at 'The Basics of Philosophy' Venice Premiere At the Venice Film Festival, few premieres have elicited a reaction as emotionally charged as Paul Schrader's The Basics of Philosophy .
The 80 year old director was visibly shaken by the film's conclusion, his eyes welling up with tears as he acknowledged the applause.
Schrader's latest creation is part of a long standing fascination with the "man in the room" trope – a character archetype that has been a constant throughout his career.