Cautionary tales were fantastic in the '70s.

What's the point of being an Australian guy traveling through India if you are going to go to India to meet other Australians?

The amazing thing is that the more money it takes for a movie to get made, the more you feel like everybody wants you to fail.

It's a cliche, but Americans are puritanical. In their movies, they are scared of sex, but they overindulge in violence. I could have cut a G-rated version of 'Y Tu Mama Tambien' that would have pleased the American ratings board, but it would have been five minutes long.

I guess I have a short attention span! I'm interested in new worlds, new universes, new challenges.

As a director, you're only as good as your collaborators. You surround with collaborators that are going to understand what you're trying to do. Not only that, they're going to push and fight for what you're trying to do.

I left Mexico for artistic survival. If I had stayed, I would have been forced by the government, who control the movie business, to direct TV shows or commercials or infomercials for the government.