I just did a dramatic love story. Whether it's a cultural phenomenon is not for me to say.

Directing, I get all kinds of inspiration. It's working with people. It's a lot more fun.

I think doing period piece is easier, because after a certain distance, everybody is equal, I think. The relative contemporary is harder. I think that's the way it is.

I am not particularly religious. But I think we do face the question of where God is, why we are created and where does life go, why we exist. That sort of thing. And it is very hard to talk about it these days, because it cannot be proven. It is hard to discuss it rationally.

As artists, we like night more than day sometimes.

After making several tragic movies in a row, I was looking to do a comedy, and one without cynicism.

I don't have a checklist. Whatever material excites me, they'll call for a certain genre or combination of genres. It'll come naturally and I'll be eager to learn how that thing works. I learn the rules, and I'll probably break some of them.