I discover what my film is by embarking on the journey of making it.

When I was young I used to sit in the cinema thinking wouldn't it be great if you could have a film in which the characters were like real people instead of being like actors.

I try and create for the audience something that relates to real-life experience.

Given the choice of Hollywood or poking steel pins in my eyes, I'd prefer steel pins.

I hope I make films where you walk away . . . with work to do, arguments to have, things to worry about, things to care about. In that sense, I would regard what I do as political.

My work is about life as you and I experience it. You're either lucky or you're not lucky; either your relationship works or it doesn't.

But films should be voyeuristic. What else is a film if you’re not snooping into somebody else’s lives?

There's a constant drip and trickle of life that goes into one's awareness really and consciousness of things.

The way an actor is trained doesn't ultimately have much bearing on my work. I'm interested in the actor as artist.

It's an unhealthy habit to say that life is what you make of it, and if you want to be happy, then you can be happy. That's just rubbish, basically.

Given the events of even the 19th century, Zionism was inevitable. Given the events of the 20th century, Israel was inevitable.

You may never get back this life, so do something in this lifetime worthy of celebration.

Don’t believe the negative criticisms. You are capable beyond measure

One day I hope you understand when you reached out your hand, I grasped it, I never let it go.

As a general man I tried watching movies, playing sports, going to picnics and other entertainments but I still got bored, then I tried heroism and now I am hero, and I never get bored.

I want to touch the heart of the world and make it smile.

We inhabit a language rather than a country.

Love is very beautiful, but very, very sad.

Cowards can't be faulted for being shy. They can't be held responsible for anything.

One Mormon raised the question with his spouse, who minched no words in replying, 'All right Jody - you get another wife and I'll get another husband!'

The fame and reputation part came later, and never was much of a motivator, although it did enable me to work without feeling guilty about neglecting my studies.