Abbas Kiarostami Quotes, born in Tehran, Iran, was an Iranian filmmaker, photographer, and poet whose minimalist, contemplative cinema reshaped global filmmaking. Renowned for films like Close-Up (1990), Taste of Cherry (1997), which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and Certified Copy (2010), he blended fiction and reality to explore human relationships and existential themes. A University of Tehran fine arts graduate, Kiarostami’s work, often using non-professional actors and natural settings, is celebrated for its poetic imagery and ambiguity.
These 15 quotes—sourced from interviews, writings, and speeches—reflect his insights on cinema, humanity, creativity, and the beauty of uncertainty, capturing his profound, visionary spirit.
15 Abbas Kiarostami Quotes
- “I’ve often noticed that we are not able to look at what we have in front of us, unless it’s inside a frame.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “In the total darkness, poetry is still there, and it is there for you.” (Filmmaker Magazine, February 13, 2013)
- “A movie is about human beings, about humanity.” (The Guardian, May 28, 2012)
- “Good cinema is what we can believe, and bad cinema is what we can’t believe.” (Film Comment, July/August 2000)
- “The calling of art is to extract us from our daily reality, to bring us to a hidden truth that’s difficult to access—to a level that’s not material but spiritual.” (The Guardian, June 13, 2009)
- “In order to be universal, you have to be rooted in your own culture.” (Filmmaker Magazine, February 13, 2013)
- “Cinema seats make people lazy. They expect to be given all the information. But for me, question marks are the punctuation of life.” (Filmmaker Magazine, February 13, 2013)
- “When you take a tree that is rooted in the ground, and transfer it from one place to another, the tree will no longer bear fruit.” (The Guardian, July 29, 2009)
- “I prefer the films that put their audience to sleep in the theater. Some films have made me doze off, but the same films have made me stay up at night.” (elevatesociety.com, 2023)
- “My way of expression is full of complications and mystery because that’s my perception of life.” (Film Comment, July/August 2000)
- “I only make notes, I don’t write dialogues in full. And the notes are very much based on my knowledge of person.” (The Guardian, April 28, 2005)
- “The experience of life teaches us that being like someone in love is more real, because everything is uncertain.” (PictureQuotes.com, n.d.)
- “I spend a lot of time doing carpentry. Sometimes there is nothing that gives me the contentment that sawing a piece of wood does.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “I like my half-finished cinema to be vague. I like ambiguities. I am a filmmaker who asks audiences to make more effort than usual.” (Lessons with Kiarostami, 2015)
- “Every story that moves and interests me has an element of truth to it.” (Lessons with Kiarostami, 2015)
Abbas Kiarostami’s quotes shimmer with poetic wisdom, a call to embrace ambiguity, and a deep reverence for cinema’s power to reveal hidden truths, inspiring us to see the world anew, question lazily accepted narratives, and find beauty in the uncertain. His films, from Taste of Cherry to Close-Up, celebrated in posts found on X for their meditative depth, reflect a visionary who redefined storytelling. Which quote stirs your curiosity or sparks your creative spirit? Share it in the comments and keep Kiarostami’s luminous legacy thriving!
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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