Children Quote by Abbas Kiarostami
“When I met Akira Kurosawa in Japan, one question he asked me was, "How did you actually make the children act the way they do? I do have children in my films but I find that I reduce and reduce their presence until I have to get rid of them because there's no way that I can direct them." My own thought is that one is very grand, like an emperor on a horse, and it's very hard for a child to relate to that. In order to be able to cooperate with a child, you have to come down to below their level in order to communicate with them.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Conversation with Akira Kurosawa, date unknown
A director must meet children at their own level, simplifying authority to foster genuine performance.
In simple terms: Treat kids as equals, not distant authority.
Key Takeaway
Adapt your approach to match the child's perspective.
Themes
communication
creativity
directing
childhood
collaboration
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
empathetic
Type
instructional
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- film set with child actors
- educational workshops
- family counseling
- team building
- parenting
Key Concepts
Power dynamics
authenticity
empathy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance authority and empathy when guiding young collaborators?
- What strategies help maintain authenticity without compromising artistic vision?
A Different Perspective
Children may resist if they sense condescension, limiting authentic expression.
![“It was a film that I knew, that I had seen, that I was familiar with, but I wasn't anxious about it at any point during the screening. I snoozed twice, and this is something I couldn't have imagined that I would feel detached, as I did with this film [Certified Copy].” quote by Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/533/abbas-kiarostami-2631_anxious_it-was-a-film-that-i-knew-that-i-had-see_155328.jpg)
![“When the film [Certified Copy] was in the Cannes Festival, I realized that the fact of having it shot in a different culture, in a different language, in a different setting, that wasn't mine and that I didn't belong to, gave me a totally different relationship to the film. When I was sitting in…” quote by Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb3/abbas-kiarostami-2631_audience_when-the-film-certified-copy-was-in-the_200718.jpg)
