To do the writing, I have to have time to do research.

When Picasso painted in Paris, was he a Spanish or a French painter? It does not matter, he was Picasso, whatever the influences surrounding him. He simply chose Paris because it was the ideal place for him to sell his creation.

I had to choose between American and British actors, and it didn't take me more than a second to decide: Russians are Europeans and should be played by other Europeans.

The art of motion pictures is pictorial and language comes a distant second.

The financing of my films has always been international.

America is the only country capable of producing national movies: its culture has become a global culture.

When a French book becomes an international hit it is because of the author and not because of the language. The same goes for movies.