Of course, we avoid death. To know something is inevitable is one thing. To accept, to truly feel it... that's different.

I never suffered from the absence of a father. On the contrary, as a child I was more inclined to see men as a disturbing factor. It made things difficult for me when I started working as a director.

On the set I make jokes I can't get too involved, or it turns into sentimental soup. I try to keep it light.

I like to write for actors I know and with whom I've worked before. You can write to their strengths and weaknesses and write roles that are better suited to them.

Never say no. It always depends on what's possible. I don't care so much where it is; it's what I want to do that matters.

It's difficult because you can't generalise about these things. But in essence, you deal with children as simply as you deal with actors - you have to show a certain sort of respect. You deal with them lovingly and protect them, but if you protect them enough then they're open to engage with what you want to do with them.

To decide to film a movie again shot by shot, you must be masochistic to a certain degree because it is a much greater challenge.