Biographie

Most of his work in theatre and film is done without any initial script. He and the actors improvise their characters and the scenes under his overall control.

When actors audition for him, he asks them to sit at a table while he observes.

Has directed 3 actresses in Oscar-nominated performances: Brenda Blethyn, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Imelda Staunton.

His top 10 films of all time are: L'arbre aux sabots (1978), Voyage à Tokyo (1953), Soy Cuba (1964), Les quatre cents coups (1959), Moartea domnului Lazarescu (2005), Chansons du deuxième étage (2000), Certains l'aiment chaud (1959), Radio Days (1987), Seven Chances (1925) and How a Mosquito Operates (1912).

Chairman of the London Film School.

One develops a strange parallel existence that is not to do with oneself but is defined by some journalists. In my case, I'm supposed to be this - how does it go exactly? - "melancholic soul given to brooding silences".

I've long since stopped worrying about how I'm portrayed in the press because ultimately it's not that important. Everyone who knows me knows I do what I do with the greatest integrity.

I mean, I've been to screenings of the film where the laughter came at quite surprising - to me - points. But, you know, people laugh for a variety of reasons - with, or at, or out of embarrassment, or nervousness even. It's not always a function of mirth.

If it's the case that there are a lot of people who can't or don't see my films, I don't really think that's to do with me, or the nature of my films, or neglect of me. It's to do with the continuing problem of the dissemination of British films on British screens. It's to do with the domination of Hollywood. But, do I feel neglected? No, hand on heart, not at all, I feel lucky. I get to make films without even showing a script. To be honest, the fact that I'm allowed to do what I do in the way that I do it never ceases to amaze me.

People say to me, "Oh come on, you could do a great thing with a script." But I've always said no. Everyone will expect the quality and style of the acting to be as good as they are in my other films - and I wouldn't know how to do it.