My way of remaining French was the financing scheme I used for Quest for Fire, with Fox funds, since it started as a 100% American production. The film was not in French and yet was French in style, reflecting my personality.

The financing of my films has always been international.

The French have got to understand that a film is so expensive that it can no longer afford to be regional or even national in scope.

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

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.

British actors behave like Europeans; they are also extremely well trained.