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.

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.

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.

When Americans shoot movies they aim at the entire planet. When the French make movies, they aim at Paris.

The financing of my films has always been international.

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.

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