Al Pacino's Early Life and Influences

Al Pacino reflects on his challenging upbringing in the South Bronx, where he was raised in a single-parent home by his mother. He shares how his childhood experiences, including moments of joy and trauma, shaped him as a person and an artist. Specifically, he recounts incidents of reckless behavior while growing up, such as throwing garbage from rooftops to entertain himself and his friends. Pacino attributes his avoidance of substance abuse, which claimed the lives of several close friends, to the strong influence of his mother, who instilled in him a sense of responsibility and love.