Asghar Farhadi quotes

Asghar Farhadi is an acclaimed Iranian film director and screenwriter, known for his deeply humanist and socially insightful dramas. His works explore complex moral dilemmas and the intricacies of Iranian society. He has won multiple international awards, including two Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film. Here are 23 of his quotes:

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.

Asghar Farhadi

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.

Asghar Farhadi

It's been interesting to see how similar audiences in the East and West are, actually, and how it makes you realize that when politicians emphasize the differences between our cultures, it's usually because it benefits them more so than us.

Asghar Farhadi

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

Asghar Farhadi

Poetry, especially traditional Iranian poetry, is very good at looking at things from a number of different angles simultaneously.

Asghar Farhadi

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.

Asghar Farhadi

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.

Asghar Farhadi

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

Asghar Farhadi

When we talk about self-confrontations, we are speaking about moral issues rather than social issues.

Asghar Farhadi

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

Asghar Farhadi

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.

Asghar Farhadi

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.

Asghar Farhadi

When I came to know theater, drama became valuable to me.

Asghar Farhadi

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.

Asghar Farhadi

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.

Asghar Farhadi

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

Asghar Farhadi

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.

Asghar Farhadi

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

Asghar Farhadi

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

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

Asghar Farhadi