The exquisite truth is to believe in something that maybe you know is a fiction, but you believe in it willingly.

To laugh or cry is the most beautiful thing in the world

Stanley Kubrick is one of the geniuses of this century.

Fellini and Bunuel changed my life for me, they are my favourites. If it is true that movies are dreams, both of them, Fellini and Bunuel were shooting in a dream way.

The first movie I saw - and I don't know if it influenced me - was 'Ben Hur'.

Dante Alighieri has the most glorious imagination of modern poetry. So it's talking about us, it's concerning us. Everything in it conveys sentiment, emotions. He is really the greatest poet ever. So I am really very proud to present the shining pearl of Italian culture around the world.

I could have made a small film and kept all the money from 'Life is Beautiful'. Instead, I spent more money than I had on 'Pinocchio', a very risky film.