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!

I spend a lot of time doing carpentry. Sometimes there is nothing that gives me the contentment that sawing a piece of wood does.

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.

This was pointed out to me by somebody who referred to the paintings of Rembrandt and his use of light: some elements are highlighted while others are obscured or even pushed back into the dark. And it's something that we do - we bring out elements that we want to emphasise.

I think Woody Allen is Woody Allen, and no matter where he goes he still makes his Woody Allen films.

Maybe more than a teller, I am a story listener. I really enjoy listening to stories. I remember them and keep them in my mind. All of my films are a collection of small stories that have been told to me.

In my mind, there isn't as much of a distinction between documentary and fiction as there is between a good movie and a bad one.