My car's my best friend. My office. My home. My location. I have a very intimate sense when I am in a car with someone next to me. We're in the most comfortable seats because we're not facing each other, but sitting side by side. We don't look at each other, but instead do so only when we want to. We're allowed to look around without appearing rude. We have a big screen in front of us and side views. Silence doesn't seem heavy or difficult. Nobody serves anybody. And many other aspects. One most important thing is that it transports us from one place to another.

This [the earthquake] was a very big influence on me, and the issue of life and death from then on does recur in my films.

A work of art doesn't exist outside the perception of the audience.

Close-Up has affected later films that I've made.

This concept that you refer to in Buddhism is something I've been nurtured with through the history of my country for 700, 800 years - Persian poets and philosophers haven't said anything different with regard to experiencing life in the moment, as opposed to the belief of permanence.

I think I really produce my best work in Iran.

I would be too selfish if I said everyone should see my movies more than once. To say that would mean I'm just marketing my work!