If I were to write anything at all, it would turn out to be nothing but talk about movies. In other words, take 'myself,' subtract 'movies,' and the result is 'zero.'

A truly good movie is enjoyable too. There’s nothing complicated about it.

Human beings are unable to be honest with themselves about themselves. They cannot talk about themselves without embellishing.

I like unformed characters. This may be because, no matter how old I get, I am still unformed myself.

During the shooting of a scene the director’s eye has to catch even the minutest detail. But this does not mean glaring concentratedly at the set. While the cameras are rolling, I rarely look directly at the actors, but focus my gaze somewhere else. By doing this I sense instantly when something isn’t right. Watching something does not mean fixing your gaze on it, but being aware of it in a natural way. I believe this is what the medieval Noh playwright and theorist Zeami meant by ‘watching with a detached gaze.’

I can't afford to hate anyone. I don't have that kind of time.

There is nothing that says more about its creator than the work itself.