Abbas Kiarostami

I really think that I don't mind people sleeping during my films, because I know that some very good films might prepare you for sleeping or falling asleep or snoozing. It's not to be taken badly at all. This is something I really mean. ”

Cinema seats make people lazy. They expect to be given all the information. But for me, question marks are the punctuation of life. ”

There is violence in real life but I would never impose violence in a film just to attract the audience. ”

Cinema gives you the opportunity to be both a grandparent and a grandchild whereas in life you cannot be both at the same time. ”

My way of expression is full of complications and mystery because that's my perception of life. ”

In order to be universal, you have to be rooted in your own culture. ”

Film is very much a universal and common voice, and we can't limit it to one particular culture. ”

A good movie is made by an initial burst of energy, the way that, when you are in school, your class exercises are always better than your final projects. ”

I spend a lot of time doing carpentry. Sometimes there is nothing that gives me the contentment that sawing a piece of wood does. ”

I prefer the countryside to cities. This is also true of my films: I have made more films in rural societies, and villages, than in towns. ”