Kelly Reichardt Quotes

I like to have a project. I live to have something to waste my energy on, something to think about. To figure out like a puzzle.

The lies are in the dialogue, the truth is in the visuals.

Waking up and having a project to work on is one of life's great pleasures.

Happiness is a strange word. So conclusive. Happiness is a thing that happens for a moment.

It's been a lifetime of trying to have less beef. Beef comes very naturally to me. I was born with my dukes up, but that's not always necessary anymore. I have to retrain myself.

I'm 51. So I'm just saying, 30 years from now you're going to have a different outlook. That's what a midlife crisis is.

I was coming to be an adult, the AIDS epidemic happened. Moving to New York, watching that unfold, and watching the activism around that... it was complete chaos of life, and then this horrific non-response from the powers that be. There was a lot of misery and sadness tied up in that.

In my mid-age I do feel more at peace - not with the world, but with myself.

I find filmmaking to be a super lonely, alienating experience.

As a child, I remember being in the pool at this pool party and having to get out of the pool to watch Nixon resign. My first idea of a president was of a guy who was a crook.

I'm still the person on my friend's couch, and I'd like to own the couch.

I'm drawn to people that have tasks to do.

I'm looking at the window and can't understand why there are six hundred thousand SUVs here in this little town. No one can even move. Why doesn't everyone just get out and walk?

I'm not miserable, but I can't not be angry.

I don't dislike everything I do. Especially with a film, you don't have an easy relationship with it when it's done because it's been your life.

I have to say: We were looking at all of Native American actors, who mostly all work under one casting director. And there's so much talent to be cast. There really is. We saw some really good readings. There's more talent to be had there.

The beautiful moment sits very close to the horrific one.

I don't have to be making something to feel like life has value.