Mathieu Kassovitz Quotes

We made it known that we were trying to show the reality of France. People think of Paris as the city of love or the city of light, but where you got love you got hate, where you got light you got darkness.

Like anywhere, we had to make people understand that we were there with good intentions, and that we were there with respect. We started making contacts with the people in the neighborhood three months before shooting began, so that everyone involved was comfortable.

It’s good that they’ve seen it, but how can I be satisfied after working for two years making a film which I hope will make a difference, when the government sees the film and does nothing about it?

In France they spend six months training policemen, then they give them a gun and put them on the streets, and I don’t know that that’s enough. The film’s not against the police – although I think that if someone wants to be a cop there’s got to be a problem.

I’m not a politician; I’m lucky to be a filmmaker and to be able to express myself through the films I make.

I have a hard enough time speaking for myself – I don’t pretend I can be a spokesman for anybody. I have no interest in playing that role.