The foreign-language Oscar is something that doesn't go to the producer or the director; it goes to the country.

When you make a film, you come to say something.

Making a film transforms your relationship to the world. And there's some sort of natural authority that builds up along the way.

There was something, which was the turning point: I felt very strongly that women were sexualized, and perceived like they are sexual in every move, and it started off really early.

With a screenwriter and with the actors there is always an environment of trust. You can say anything, all your secrets, and you know that it won't get out of that room.

I didn't want to do casting in a way that you find yourself in a situation where there's this perfect girl for a part and you just can't cast her because the family says no.

Of course, when you work with actors and when you work on a script everything that you know about the human experience can't possibly go in.

There's something about all the people who are on a mission for purity and chastity, which I find very questionable.

Sometimes you have to go a little crazy before you can find sanity. I think I'm close.

Reboot your beliefs, create new thoughts, and choose powerful action.

No matter how good you are to people, you will always have barriers and enemies on your way to success

Death is the only serious preoccupation in life.

If we had no regard for others' feelings or fortune we would grow cold and indifferent to life itself.

If you tell someone a secret, and ask them to keep it secret, you are asking them to display a discretion you are unable to display yourself.

Fear of failure is a far worse condition than failure itself, because it kills off possibilities.

Women are more susceptible to pain than to pleasure.

Anger is nothing more than an outward expression of hurt, fear and frustration

There's a lot more to being a woman than being a mother, but there's a hell of a lot more to being a mother than most people suspect.