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.

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

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

There is a broad cultural current that conveys the idea that a film is like a football team, it represents a nation, it is illustrated literature, filmed radio. These are outdated concepts, totally out of touch with today's realities.

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

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.

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.