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" I must say here in France I had more serenity or security as I was working because I knew I was making the film the way I wished and that the film would be seen, ultimately, which is not always the case in Iran. In Iran, you always work having in mind this worry of will I be able to carry on my project as I wish and will the audience see the film. "

Asghar Farhadi

Work

Wish

" Iranian filmmakers are not passive. They fight whenever they can, as creative expression means a lot to them. The restrictions and censorship in Iran are a bit like the British weather: one day it's sunny, the next day it's raining. You just have to hope you walk out into the sunshine. "

" The bigger confrontation is the one an individual has with itself. "

" If you give an answer to your viewer, your film will simply finish in the movie theatre. But when you pose questions, your film actually begins after people watch it. In fact, your film will continue inside the viewer. "

" I like storytelling movies and more than that I like historical movies; and I think someday I'll definitely make a movie about the past 50 years history. "

Asghar Farhadi

Past

History

" We have the wrong impression of life. We think the very big incidents of our lives are consequences of huge dilemmas or major decisions. If we paid attention, we'd realize that the determining incidents in our lives are ordinary things. "

" I prefer to stay in my country. But this doesn't mean if someone does want to leave Iran, I think they've done something wrong - the desire to leave is completely understandable. "

" When I decide to write a story, I don't think too much about what I want it to be, I just let things come naturally and this is how it turns out. It's just how my subconscious works. "

" The fact is I'm not making a film in order to draw pictures or make images about Iran. "

" I feel that it means a lot to the people of Iran that my film is represented at the Oscars, and it makes me happy to bring them that joy, that I'm representing them and that I'm able to give them that element of pleasure to be the envoy from Iran. It's a very pleasant thing. "

" The process of writing is like creating a game of dominoes: The first domino creates the second incident, and so forth until the end. "

" It's very difficult to talk about religion in Iran because religion has gotten so mixed up with politics. "

Asghar Farhadi

Difficult

Politics

" There is no privilege in restriction. In other words, I disagree with people who say restriction makes you more creative. I think that's a misleading slogan. I might have been more creative without them than with them. "

" There are those who simply want to live their lives, and feel they cannot live the way they want to in Iran. Others are ideologically motivated: They will stay no matter what and try to change things. "

" Often times, music is used to evoke an emotion and it's become a cliche, so I don't want to do that, and actually what I do, is that emotional intensity that has developed throughout the film, I allow it to get released by having that music at the end with the credits. "

" Each person makes their own choice, but my spirit is meant to stay in Iran, especially with the work that I do, and with the emotional connection I have with the country - with all its difficulties, this is why I stay. "

" I gained a great deal from the period during which I worked in theater and I value those things a great deal. "

" Is there one specific source that determines correct morality and everybody should follow that? Or should individuals come up with following that source or not depending on their situation? "

Asghar Farhadi

Morality

" Classical tragedy was the war between good and evil. We wanted evil to be defeated and good to be victorious. But the battle in modern tragedy is between good and good. And no matter which side wins, we'll still be heartbroken. "

" I feel it's important to talk about the complex issues affecting us. "

" It's not some big event that creates the drama, it's the little things of everyday life that bring about that drama. "

" I tend to jot down moments, lines, interactions that don't really make any sense. I try and explain these scattered notes to my close friends, and they become more and more logical. I see screenwriting as a bit like a math equation which I have to solve. "

" I think it's insulting to an audience to make them sit and watch a film and then give them a message in one sentence. "

" I would have had the same narrative, regardless of the atmosphere and the restrictions. "