When you finish a film, before the first paying audience sees it, you don't have any idea. You don't know if you made a success or a flop, when it comes to the box office.

The worst evil is - and that's the product of censorship - is the self-censorship, because that twists spines, that destroys my character because I have to think something else and say something else, I have to always control myself.

Because if you lived, as I did, several years under Nazi totalitarianism, and then 20 years in communist totalitarianism, you would certainly realize how precious freedom is, and how easy it is to lose your freedom.

When I came for the first time to the United States, visiting, I was absolutely fascinated by New York.

People must not think that all bad in man which is unleashed, the moment you impose censorship disappears from man.

Memories are doing funny things to us.

First of all, to defend my work, I had to believe that I am doing a totally silly, stupid, innocent comedy.