--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In my mind, there isn't as much of a…" description: "\"In my mind, there isn't as much of a distinction between documentary and fiction as there is between a good movie and a bad one.\" — Abbas Kiarostami" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/370/abbas-kiarostami-2631_distinction_in-my-mind-there-isn-t-as-much-of-a-dist_1915394.png" --- # In my mind, there isn't as much of a distinction between… ![“In my mind, there isn't as much of a distinction between documentary and fiction as there is between a good movie and a bad one.” quote by Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/370/abbas-kiarostami-2631_distinction_in-my-mind-there-isn-t-as-much-of-a-dist_1915394.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/370/abbas-kiarostami-2631_distinction_in-my-mind-there-isn-t-as-much-of-a-dist_1915394.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/370/abbas-kiarostami-2631_distinction_in-my-mind-there-isn-t-as-much-of-a-dist_1915394.png) > “In my mind, there isn't as much of a distinction between documentary and fiction as there is between a good movie and a bad one.” [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. The line between documentary and fiction blurs like that between good and bad movies, highlighting quality over genre. **In simple terms:** Quality matters more than label. Key Takeaway Judge by quality, not category. Themes art film quality Mood analytical critical Type cinematic philosophical When to use this quote - film criticism - viewing choices - educational curricula Key Concepts aesthetic judgment genre theory Questions to Reflect On - What defines a "good" film for you? - How does genre bias affect your judgment? A Different Perspective Genre expectations shape perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Distinction Documentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction-documentary-2909709/) [Documentaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentaries/) [Documentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentary/) [Documentary Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentary-fiction-2909708/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Fiction Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-good-918014/) [Good movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-movie/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movie Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie-bad-1173465/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [We exaggerate the difference between documentary and fiction. I think that on some level a fiction film is also a documentary on the actors.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/we-exaggerate-the-difference-between-documentary-and-fiction-i-think/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) > [I'm a huge Woody Allen fan. Good movie, bad movie, it doesn't matter - I just like his movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/i-m-a-huge-woody-allen-fan-good-movie-bad-movie-it-doesn-t-matter-i/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [You can't make a good movie with a bad script, no matter who's involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/you-can-t-make-a-good-movie-with-a-bad-script-no-matter-who-s-involved/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) > [A good movie with bad music can kill a great dramatic scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-surnow/a-good-movie-with-bad-music-can-kill-a-great-dramatic-scene/) [Joel Surnow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-surnow/) > [It's possible for me to make a bad movie out of a good script, but I can't make a good movie from a bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/it-s-possible-for-me-to-make-a-bad-movie-out-of-a-good-script-but-i/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [A good movie is made by an initial burst of energy, the way that, when you are in school, your class exercises are always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/a-good-movie-is-made-by-an-initial-burst-of-energy-the-way-that-when/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [I don’t think ‘science fiction’ is a very good name for it, but it’s the name that we’ve got. It is different from other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/i-don-t-think-science-fiction-is-a-very-good-name-for-it-but-it-s-the/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Conflict and character are the heart of good fiction, and good mystery has both of those in spades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/conflict-and-character-are-the-heart-of-good-fiction-and-good-mystery/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [Writing fiction is a good way to inhabit other minds, if not other lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-heti/writing-fiction-is-a-good-way-to-inhabit-other-minds-if-not-other/) [Sheila Heti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-heti/) > [Fantasy is an area where it is possible to talk about right and wrong, good and evil, with a straight face. In mainstream fiction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/fantasy-is-an-area-where-it-is-possible-to-talk-about-right-and-wrong/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [I see myself as a storyteller, I don't mind if the story is fact or fiction, if it's a good story I'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leanne-pooley/i-see-myself-as-a-storyteller-i-don-t-mind-if-the-story-is-fact-or/) [Leanne Pooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leanne-pooley/) > [In terms of fiction, I'd rather go out and have a good time than read a book about someone having a good or bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/in-terms-of-fiction-i-d-rather-go-out-and-have-a-good-time-than-read/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [“To write good religious science fiction, or indeed good religious fiction of any kind, is a challenge but one that it would be worthwhile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-g-p-colebatch/to-write-good-religious-science-fiction-or-indeed-good-religious/) [Hal G.P. Colebatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-g-p-colebatch/) > [“Fiction---good fiction, anyway---is dream made flesh, given purpose and drive, and set on a quest to show us the best in us and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-lisle/fiction-good-fiction-anyway-is-dream-made-flesh-given-purpose-and/) [Holly Lisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-lisle/) > [I came into science fiction at a very good time, when the doors were getting thrown open to all kinds of more experimental writing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/i-came-into-science-fiction-at-a-very-good-time-when-the-doors-were/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) ## 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 Distinction quotes > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [The fact -- not theory -- that evolution has occurred and the Darwinian theory as to how it occurred have become so confused in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gaylord-simpson/the-fact-not-theory-that-evolution-has-occurred-and-the-darwinian/) [George Gaylord Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gaylord-simpson/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [If I have a system it is limited to a recognition of what Kierkegaard called 'the infinite qualitative distinction' between time and eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/if-i-have-a-system-it-is-limited-to-a-recognition-of-what-kierkegaard/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I make no distinction between writing and storytelling; I've always wanted to tell stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-make-no-distinction-between-writing-and-storytelling-i-ve-always/) [Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/) > [Where did you find that one?" "I have no idea. I'm a magnet for crazies, I guess." "They must be able to sense a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/where-did-you-find-that-one-i-have-no-idea-i-m-a-magnet-for-crazies-i/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I realized early on that the academy and the literary world alike - and I don't think there really is a distinction between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/i-realized-early-on-that-the-academy-and-the-literary-world-alike-and/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [Alfred Nobel stipulated that no distinction of race or colour will determine who received of his generosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdus-salam/alfred-nobel-stipulated-that-no-distinction-of-race-or-colour-will/) [Abdus Salam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdus-salam/) > [I think it is important for all those young out there - who someday hope to play real football, where you throw it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/i-think-it-is-important-for-all-those-young-out-there-who-someday/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [I've always longed for the theatre and acting to be popular. No actor wants to play to an empty house. We only do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-ve-always-longed-for-the-theatre-and-acting-to-be-popular-no-actor/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [There is no moral distinction between petty thievery and 'from each according to ability, to each according to need.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/there-is-no-moral-distinction-between-petty-thievery-and-from-each/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [People always make this totally artificial distinction between what is commercial and what is good. They quote that maxim "Nobody ever lost money underestimating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/people-always-make-this-totally-artificial-distinction-between-what/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [People should make distinctions between the office of the presidency and the person who occupies it. You can respect the office even as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-greenberg/people-should-make-distinctions-between-the-office-of-the-presidency/) [David Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-greenberg/) [Browse all 1,181 Distinction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In my mind, there isn't as much of a distinction between documentary and fiction as there is between a good movie and a bad one.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abbas Kiarostami" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/in-my-mind-there-isn-t-as-much-of-a-distinction-between-documentary/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Distinction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/in-my-mind-there-isn-t-as-much-of-a-distinction-between-documentary/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/370/abbas-kiarostami-2631_distinction_in-my-mind-there-isn-t-as-much-of-a-dist_1915394.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/370/abbas-kiarostami-2631_distinction_in-my-mind-there-isn-t-as-much-of-a-dist_1915394.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/370/abbas-kiarostami-2631_distinction_in-my-mind-there-isn-t-as-much-of-a-dist_1915394.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In my mind, there isn't as much of a distinction between documentary and fiction as there is between a good…” — 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": "In my mind, there isn't as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/in-my-mind-there-isn-t-as-much-of-a-distinction-between-documentary/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/in-my-mind-there-isn-t-as-much-of-a-distinction-between-documentary/#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 } } ] } ```