I like poetry, but honestly, I like dramatic literature more. If I had to pick between Rumi and Dostoevsky, I would pick Dostoevsky without even thinking about it. Ninety-nine out of 100 Iranians would probably pick Rumi. Kiarostami, too, would probably pick Rumi first. I try to have the meaning be in the action of the story, not in the symbolism. I want it to be in the action, and it's dramatic action that creates the meaning.

I think happy and hope is more hopeful when you acknowledge that there's awful things too.

I like to give the actors the freedom, and they know they have the freedom, to change anything they want at any time.

We're living in a world that says that if you engage in mass fraud, you'll be rewarded, but if you go down the street and steal an orange juice, you get arrested.

You have to let life come and go.

Most of the projects aren't that interesting anymore. There used to be a day when the studios made amazing films, and they were about human beings.

Since Hollywood seems to be more interested in people wearing tights and using powers, there seems to be a fertile ground for movies about real human beings.