“A movie is about human beings, about humanity.” — Abbas Kiarostami Quote

A movie is about human beings, about humanity.

When I talk to some of the younger filmmakers, they are so worried about their films that, eventually, this state of being worried reflects itself in and helps the final work. Whereas, with projects that are meticulously planned, you look at the end result and it is full of emptiness.

A work of art doesn't exist outside the perception of the audience.

I spend a lot of time doing carpentry. Sometimes there is nothing that gives me the contentment that sawing a piece of wood does.

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 can play really terrible human beings, and I seem to have a quality that people can, if not necessarily forgive me those sins, at least cut me some slack.

We all live inside bodies that will deteriorate. But when you look at human beings, they're capable of very decent things: love, loyalty. When time is running out, they don't care about possessions or status. They want to put things right if they've done wrong.

Mythology and science both extend the scope of human beings. Like science and technology, mythology, as we shall see, is not about opting out of this world, but about enabling us to live more intensely within it.

Dr. King was one of the most inspiring human beings I ever met. He was such a warm, compassionate, and loving human being.