Director

My films have been progressing towards a certain kind of minimalism, even though it was never intended. Elements which can be eliminated have been eliminated.

The day we run out of petrol is the day Iran will be free.

I am a citizen of the world.

I never reflect or convey that which I have not experienced myself.

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.

I've often noticed that we are not able to look at what we have in front of us, unless it's inside a frame.

I can watch films and say how technically beautiful they are, but I'm not impressed by any technicality.

I would say that no film is apolitical. There are politics in all films. Any film that is anchored in a society, any film that deals with humanity is necessarily political.

Some movies bring out the creativity in you. Every single audience member can become creative in the face of a particular movie. If you happen to like my films, it's because my films provide a bed for you on which you can find your creativity. The Hollywood movies do not provide that for you.

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.

All the different nations in the world, despite their differences of appearance and religion and language and way of life, still have one thing in common, and that is what's inside of all of us. If we X-rayed the insides of different human beings, we wouldn't be able to tell from those X-rays what the person's language or background or race is.

A movie is about human beings, about humanity.

In the total darkness, poetry is still there, and it is there for you.

From my very first movie, what was my concentration, my inspiration, was I didn't want to narrate something, I didn't want to tell a story. I wanted to show something, I wanted for them to make their own story from what they were seeing.

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.

Religion works on some people but not on everyone, because it says, 'Stop thinking and accept what I tell you.' That's not valid for people who want to think and reflect.

I would say that no film is apolitical. There are politics in all films. Any film that is anchored in a society, any film that deals with humanity is necessarily political.

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

Usually when I take my films to festivals, I feel incredibly anxious about them. I wonder how it will be received, how the audience will react. I feel deeply responsible for them.

Whenever people ask me what the story is for my next film, I won't tell and people feel it's because I'm being secretive or something, but it's actually because I'm ashamed to sum up a film in three sentences.