I wanted to make a movie about the arbitrary nature of love.

I think you get better at staring into space. Especially living in the South of France.

Their every instinct - and I have to say this is without exception - is to iron out the bumps, and It's always the bumps that are the most interesting stuff.

Always, with any movie that I do, I have a book of ideas that I've heard, or seen, or whatever, and I always try to incorporate it in the film.

The danger is that if you have a bunch of ideas that you forget to use.

The challenge, really, on any new film is to try to avoid that and achieve a few moments that aren't cliche.

Somebody said that I'm a bit like a sponge, grabbing things here and there, soaking stuff up. [As a director] you have to be, really.

Well, I think just the fact that you are making your first film is a huge step.

Well, Brief Encounter is certainly one of my top five favorites of all time. I looked at Brief Encounter very closely, to be honest.

It's the sort of subject that always interests me: jealousy and the language of suspicion and guilt. I think it interests people.

I've always been interested in films where you can identify with the actors. Where you can be in their shoes and therefore be more involved if they're people that you recognize.

The holy faith is the strong force.

Though argument does not create conviction, the lack of it destroys belief.

Old wood best to burn old wine to drink old friends to trust and old authors to read.

And it's easy to stay grounded. The ground is very close. And we walk on it every day.

He who allows himself to be insulted deserves to be.

When I get it into my head that I want to do something, I do it.

My whole thing is if it wasn't for people like ya'll and people like them I wouldn't be me. I love every minute of it.

I've never been in the studio where it felt like I didn't have a voice. Whether I was co-producing or producing by myself, this community is the one place where I really see democracy at its purest.