--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think life is so difficult to catch…" description: "\"I think life is so difficult to catch, it's so furtive, that a copy, a film, can in no way catch it and represent it.\" — Abbas Kiarostami" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/919/abbas-kiarostami-2631_cinema_i-think-life-is-so-difficult-to-catch-it_3063451.png" --- # I think life is so difficult to catch, it's so furtive… ![“I think life is so difficult to catch, it's so furtive, that a copy, a film, can in no way catch it and represent it.” quote by Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/919/abbas-kiarostami-2631_cinema_i-think-life-is-so-difficult-to-catch-it_3063451.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/919/abbas-kiarostami-2631_cinema_i-think-life-is-so-difficult-to-catch-it_3063451.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/919/abbas-kiarostami-2631_cinema_i-think-life-is-so-difficult-to-catch-it_3063451.png) > “I think life is so difficult to catch, it's so furtive, that a copy, a film, can in no way catch it and represent it.” [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s elusive nature cannot be fully captured by any medium, including film. **In simple terms:** Life cannot be fully captured on film. Key Takeaway Accept life’s mystery. Themes art life representation Mood thoughtful poetic Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - documentary work - creative expression - philosophical inquiry Key Concepts film limits subjectivity ephemeral reality Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of life can film portray? - How do we honor life’s mystery in art? A Different Perspective Films can convey aspects of life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Even if you try to copy a film shot by shot, you still can't. It's still your own film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/even-if-you-try-to-copy-a-film-shot-by-shot-you-still-can-t-it-s/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I'm not going to go to the local theater to spend $12... when I can get a screening copy of a film. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-leon-talley/i-m-not-going-to-go-to-the-local-theater-to-spend-12-when-i-can-get-a/) [Andre Leon Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-leon-talley/) > [It's true: with players like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, it's difficult to catch them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-lloris/it-s-true-with-players-like-messi-and-cristiano-ronaldo-it-s/) [Hugo Lloris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-lloris/) > [“(Jane Austen) is the most difficult to catch in the act of greatness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/jane-austen-is-the-most-difficult-to-catch-in-the-act-of-greatness/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [When you get behind with the tax department, it's very difficult to catch up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/when-you-get-behind-with-the-tax-department-it-s-very-difficult-to/) [Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/) > [I think that in life, being is nothing but an illusion. If we acknowledge that and accept the fact that we are in between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-think-that-in-life-being-is-nothing-but-an-illusion-if-we/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [There is no character in the comedy of human life more difficult to play well than that of an old bachelor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-no-character-in-the-comedy-of-human-life-more-difficult-to/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [The defenders are just trying to make life more difficult for you and you have to turn it around and make things more difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jozy-altidore/the-defenders-are-just-trying-to-make-life-more-difficult-for-you-and/) [Jozy Altidore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jozy-altidore/) > [Loneliness does not worry me; life is difficult enough, putting up with yourself and with your own habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/loneliness-does-not-worry-me-life-is-difficult-enough-putting-up-with/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Life is the most difficult exam. Many tend to fail in it copying others not realizing that each one has a different question paper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/life-is-the-most-difficult-exam-many-tend-to-fail-in-it-copying/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Learning to take hold of one's life is very difficult in a culture that values property over life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haki-r-madhubuti/learning-to-take-hold-of-one-s-life-is-very-difficult-in-a-culture/) [Haki R. Madhubuti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haki-r-madhubuti/) > [Truth of life is that in difficult times, my family was my backbone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manisha-koirala/truth-of-life-is-that-in-difficult-times-my-family-was-my-backbone/) [Manisha Koirala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manisha-koirala/) > [“Life is made difficult from the inside out!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahchilyah/life-is-made-difficult-from-the-inside-out/) Yahchilyah > [“Life is difficult.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/life-is-difficult/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Life can be difficult sometimes, it gets bumpy. What with family and kids and things not going exactly like you planned. But that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-van-patten/life-can-be-difficult-sometimes-it-gets-bumpy-what-with-family-and/) Joyce Van Patten ## More by Abbas Kiarostami > [I think violence can never be justified. At the same time, nobody’s culture or beliefs should be insulted, that’s not something I can accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-think-violence-can-never-be-justified-at-the-same-time-nobody-s/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [I would say that no film is apolitical. There are politics in all films. Any film that is anchored in a society, any film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-would-say-that-no-film-is-apolitical-there-are-politics-in-all/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [In real life, when someone's partner calls them, they can tell from the first word their partner says what their mood is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/in-real-life-when-someone-s-partner-calls-them-they-can-tell-from-the/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [I don't have very complete scripts for my films. I have a general outline and a character in my mind, and I make no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-don-t-have-very-complete-scripts-for-my-films-i-have-a-general/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [This was pointed out to me by somebody who referred to the paintings of Rembrandt and his use of light: some elements are highlighted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/this-was-pointed-out-to-me-by-somebody-who-referred-to-the-paintings/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [A work of art doesn't exist outside the perception of the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/a-work-of-art-doesn-t-exist-outside-the-perception-of-the-audience/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [I would be too selfish if I said everyone should see my movies more than once. To say that would mean I'm just marketing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-would-be-too-selfish-if-i-said-everyone-should-see-my-movies-more/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [Unfortunately, cinema critics are very few in America, 400-500 people, but there are more critics of Iran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/unfortunately-cinema-critics-are-very-few-in-america-400-500-people/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [Usually when I take my films to festivals, I feel incredibly anxious about them. I wonder how it will be received, how the audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/usually-when-i-take-my-films-to-festivals-i-feel-incredibly-anxious/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [My car's my best friend. My office. My home. My location. I have a very intimate sense when I am in a car with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/my-car-s-my-best-friend-my-office-my-home-my-location-i-have-a-very/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/it-was-a-film-that-i-knew-that-i-had-seen-that-i-was-familiar-with/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [I never intended to write poems, nor to be a photographer, nor to be a film-maker. I just took many, many pictures and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-never-intended-to-write-poems-nor-to-be-a-photographer-nor-to-be-a/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [ When the film \[Certified Copy\] was in the Cannes Festival, I realized that the fact of having it shot in a different culture, in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/when-the-film-certified-copy-was-in-the-cannes-festival-i-realized/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [Those same people, when they leave the theater, when they look behind the curtains they are curious about their neighbors, they can guess if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/those-same-people-when-they-leave-the-theater-when-they-look-behind/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [There is violence in real life but I would never impose violence in a film just to attract the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/there-is-violence-in-real-life-but-i-would-never-impose-violence-in-a/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) [Explore all 157 Abbas Kiarostami quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think life is so difficult to catch, it's so furtive, that a copy, a film, can in no way catch it and represent it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abbas Kiarostami" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-think-life-is-so-difficult-to-catch-it-s-so-furtive-that-a-copy-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-think-life-is-so-difficult-to-catch-it-s-so-furtive-that-a-copy-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/919/abbas-kiarostami-2631_cinema_i-think-life-is-so-difficult-to-catch-it_3063451.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/919/abbas-kiarostami-2631_cinema_i-think-life-is-so-difficult-to-catch-it_3063451.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/919/abbas-kiarostami-2631_cinema_i-think-life-is-so-difficult-to-catch-it_3063451.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think life is so difficult to catch, it's so furtive, that a copy, a film, can in no way catch it and…” — Abbas Kiarostami", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abbas Kiarostami", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think life is so difficult...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-think-life-is-so-difficult-to-catch-it-s-so-furtive-that-a-copy-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-think-life-is-so-difficult-to-catch-it-s-so-furtive-that-a-copy-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```