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.
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the commonalities between Eastern and Western audiences, suggesting that cultural differences are often exaggerated for political gain.
Asghar Farhadi's quote reflects on the shared experiences and similarities that exist between audiences from different cultural backgrounds, specifically East and West. It critiques the tendency of politicians to highlight and exploit cultural differences for their own advantage, rather than fostering a sense of unity and understanding. This perspective invites us to consider how often our perceptions of one another are shaped by those in power, rather than our actual shared human experiences.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on international relations and cultural understanding, this quote could emphasize the importance of recognizing our commonalities.
More from Asghar Farhadi
All quotes →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 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.
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 always feel that a viewer has an expectation about every moment of the film and where it's going, so if I act against that, I've created a twist. In fact, it becomes a kind of game with the expectations of the viewer. This is the superficial appearance. In the layer beneath, there is a hidden theme.
You must know that Iran has a great number of productions. Many films are released. Most of them, like in the rest of the world, are commercial and shallow films. These are the most popular ones. And there are a few ones that actually develop more profound and thoughtful aspects of life. Only some of these films travel out of Iran.
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That's all that counts. People being sorry. Makes you feel better; gives you a sense of dignity, and that's all that's important; a sense of dignity. And it doesn't matter if you don't care or not, either. You got to have a sense of dignity, even if you don't care, 'cause, if you don't have that, civilization's doomed.