102 Quotes by Mike Leigh

But actually I make films that I think are extremely sophisticated and cinematic.

It's important to be true to the events, but the most important thing is to get to the essence of the experience. Not to be bogged down in an academic way by a notion of the truth. First of all, the truth is an illusive and spurious concept.

But films should be voyeuristic. What else is a film if you're not snooping into somebody else's lives?

Given the events of even the 19th century, Zionism was inevitable. Given the events of the 20th century, Israel was inevitable.

I feel very much ideologically, politically if you like, and emotionally part of the European cinema.

I make films because I am endlessly fascinated by people. I'm fascinated immediately to know about the lives that are going on around me. That is what drives me. And that is because everybody matters, everybody is there to be cared about, everybody is interesting and everybody is the potential central character in a story. Judging people is not acceptable.

Film-makers should remain true to their principles and never compromise, there is a real revival in the British film industry but there is a danger that we will become colonial servants of Hollywood. We need to maintain our own integrity.

I'm developing the stuff all the time. There's a film in my head. I'm imagining a film.

I think Michael Caine is a perfectly good actor but it's obvious he's not going to be in one of my films.