I always wanted to make this film or another film. I thought the worst thing you could do was to react to Slumdog's success in some way. I thought it would be really foolish.

It's a good place when all you have is hope and not expectations.

I grew up in a city, I'm a city person - I go on holiday and I'm bored.

There's lots of things that can be solved with cash.

I've just been to the Taj Mahal which I'd never been to and I'm not a very romantic kind of guy but it is the most romantic thing I've ever seen.

The sun is the most important thing in everybody's life, whether you're a plant, an animal or a fish, and we take it for granted.

I don't want people to sit there and objectively watch the film. I want them to experience it as something that's under their skin, so you try to make the films really tactile.

I want people to leave the cinema feeling that something's been confirmed for them about life.

If you have to be persuaded about something, you shouldn't do it.

I learned with 'The Beach' that I'm a bit better lower down the radar.

The awards season gives a chance for independent films to have a bit of longevity in the press and the media.

The meaning of life is life itself

Communism in a capitalist world requires eliminating the hope of the citizens for owning what others own.

My old man tried to force on me a notion of what it was to be a 'man.' And it destroyed my dad.

Despite the recent conviction of many that we're headed back to inflation, I think deflation remains the more likely prospect. You've just got too much excess capacity in the world.

The snow may be falling in the winter of my discontent, but at least I've got sarcastic company.

There is not a woman in the world the possession of whom is as precious as that of the truths which she reveals to us by causing us to suffer.

I admire people who dare to take the language, English, and understand it and understand the melody.

The translation process becomes a highly subjective thing - turning reds and blues into black-and-whiteness. It's really bizarre for me.

Dance is an art, so day by day, it's growing and there are new things that can be done.

My idea was to cut shape into the hair, to use it like fabric and take away everything that was superfluous.