I was born in 1929, and in the 50 years from 1930 to 1980, I've been able to live an unbelievably varied century. Before, you could never have seen such intense change in a 50-year span.

We're talking a very cultivated people, but I found as cultivated as they were, they were uninformed about the personages who weren't American. They knew everything about America, but much less about other countries.

There was also the myth of the western films. But my films are borrowed not from the story of the West in America but from the story of cinema.

I've tried to consider stories that I have read, making them into films, but they would turn out unnatural. If a producer wants that, he should call other people. Not me.

It is hard to do a film that wants to say something because, unfortunately, most everything has been said.

Women had enormous weight in America. And they still have. Because they are truly the padrone [owners, masters] of America.

If a director takes the time to document - to step back to observe - I think it I more honest. Because it has to be the public that makes the conclusions and who, possibly, resolves the situation.