I really enjoy listening to stories. I remember them and keep them in my mind.

I was mentioning with the digital camera, maybe this new fashion of filmmaking gives a closer look of what life may be like. But it's still nothing but a copy.

Unfortunately, cinema critics are very few in America, 400-500 people, but there are more critics of Iran.

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

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.

I don't like reverse-angle shots - I find them very fake and very untruthful to the viewer.

I think violence can never be justified. At the same time, nobody’s culture or beliefs should be insulted, that’s not something I can accept either. But I cannot justify or accept any violence at all.