In a relationship you have to open yourself up.

I'm more than open to hope, but I think men and women have a difficult time dealing with each other and often take the low road.

My best male friend is my best friend until he crosses me. We're all protective of the self.

You start as an audience member and create a world you're interested in, and then you move into the telling of those stories, bringing what has interested you as an audience member.

There were certain things that I watched, and I screened a series of period films as well, not because I wanted to copy those, because I wanted to be different. “Far from the Madding Crowd” was one I looked to because I thought it looked so good. “Doctor Zhivago.” Unrequited love is always a great thing. “Tess” was something I looked at, I thought Polanski got the period right.

I see bits and pieces of me in all the characters in my films.

I would be more frightened as a writer if people thought my movies were like science fiction.