And I think I often choose to do something because it's quite different from what I've done before.

I hoped that grief was similar to the other emotions. That it would end, the way happiness did. Or laughter.

Is it fair to have given us the memory of what was and the desire of what could be when we must suffer what is?

For me, the filmmaking has to be about the dramaturgy.

Films have gotten leaner and leaner, cutting out all variations from the story line.

Never make a promise - you may have to keep it.

Initially with The Butcher Boy, there was this kid growing up in this strange, weird environment that I remember from when I was a kid. And Patrick's vision was so complete there.

Well, Company of Wolves was about that literally, about fairy tales.

My conception of it was that in a normal film you have a story with different movements that program, develop, go a little bit off the trunk, come back, and end.

If movies have to satisfy every possible quadrant before they're even made, they're dull. You only get great things when people overreach themselves.

There's no point in making a film out of a great book. The book's already great. What's the point?

Give thinking the opportunity to be your everyday meal

Every woman is as bitter as gall. But she has two good moments: one in bed, the other at her death.

When you keep a secret from your parents, you're not trying to protect yourself. It's because you're trying to protect them.

I have the best memories as a kid eating ice cream. It was a family tradition that I had with my father. It was nice.

Do you think its possible to live without wanting to put your name on your paintings? To belong to a group so securely you don't need to rise above it?

The movie industry places such importance on first-week numbers-which means what to people, I don't know. It's very strange. They hope to sell tons of records the first week, and then what?

There are people who, like new songs, are in vogue only for a time.

Good intentions are not an excuse for maladministration of this magnitude.

I am sure all politicians will be convinced of the merits of this deal.

I was a teenage godmother.