--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I look at my films, all I see is…" description: "\"When I look at my films, all I see is everything that went wrong.\" — Yorgos Lanthimos" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/yorgos-lanthimos-4870_cinema_when-i-look-at-my-films-all-i-see-is-eve_2927742.jpg" --- # When I look at my films, all I see is everything that went… ![“When I look at my films, all I see is everything that went wrong.” quote by Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/yorgos-lanthimos-4870_cinema_when-i-look-at-my-films-all-i-see-is-eve_2927742.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/yorgos-lanthimos-4870_cinema_when-i-look-at-my-films-all-i-see-is-eve_2927742.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/yorgos-lanthimos-4870_cinema_when-i-look-at-my-films-all-i-see-is-eve_2927742.jpg) > “When I look at my films, all I see is everything that went wrong.” [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The director fixates on failures, reflecting a perfectionist mindset. **In simple terms:** Focus on what went wrong. Key Takeaway Learn from mistakes, not obsess. Themes perfectionism self‑critique creativity Mood introspective critical Type creative psychological When to use this quote - film production - creative projects - personal growth Key Concepts film studies psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance critique and progress? - What strategies help you move past failure? A Different Perspective Obsessing can hinder future work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films/) [Films Went](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films-went-923542/) [I see](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-see/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Look Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-films-494480/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Went Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went-wrong/) [Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong/) ## Related quotes > [So when I look back at 'Saw' and 'Insidious,' I just think, 'Wow. Both of those films went way past what we ever could've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/so-when-i-look-back-at-saw-and-insidious-i-just-think-wow-both-of/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I turned down the opportunity to be in some films that went on to be blockbusters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/i-turned-down-the-opportunity-to-be-in-some-films-that-went-on-to-be/) [Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/) > [There were certain films where I went, 'Oh, my God, I'm doing a movie.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salli-richardson/there-were-certain-films-where-i-went-oh-my-god-i-m-doing-a-movie/) [Salli Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salli-richardson/) > [I wasn't allowed to see movies when I was a child. It was against the religion I was raised in, Fundamentalist Baptist. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-craven/i-wasn-t-allowed-to-see-movies-when-i-was-a-child-it-was-against-the/) [Wes Craven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-craven/) > [I try to look at the films as I make them from a distance, in a way. I think of them as kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/panos-cosmatos/i-try-to-look-at-the-films-as-i-make-them-from-a-distance-in-a-way-i/) [Panos Cosmatos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/panos-cosmatos/) > [Everything on 'Sharknado' somehow, for some reason, something went wrong with everything. The days we had the water towers, they weren't working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassie-scerbo/everything-on-sharknado-somehow-for-some-reason-something-went-wrong/) [Cassie Scerbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassie-scerbo/) > [We lost, and that's the main thing that went wrong,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/we-lost-and-that-s-the-main-thing-that-went-wrong/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Something went wrong with my right arm. I no longer could throw hard, and it hurt like the dickens every time I threw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dazzy-vance/something-went-wrong-with-my-right-arm-i-no-longer-could-throw-hard/) [Dazzy Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dazzy-vance/) > [But somewhere we went wrong, we were once so strong..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/but-somewhere-we-went-wrong-we-were-once-so-strong/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [I look at myself and the films that I will be doing, and that films will create my identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harshvardhan-kapoor/i-look-at-myself-and-the-films-that-i-will-be-doing-and-that-films/) [Harshvardhan Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harshvardhan-kapoor/) > [When I make a film I'm away from home for two to three months. So I want my kids to look at my films…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-costner/when-i-make-a-film-i-m-away-from-home-for-two-to-three-months-so-i/) [Kevin Costner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-costner/) > [I look to films to learn and to see different avenues that you can take in growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/i-look-to-films-to-learn-and-to-see-different-avenues-that-you-can/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [The digital process gives me total control over how I want the film to look. The films look like they did when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-friedkin/the-digital-process-gives-me-total-control-over-how-i-want-the-film/) [William Friedkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-friedkin/) > [What I think happens today is that a lot of filmmakers look at other films that are retro pieces, like L.A. Confidential, and say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-demme/what-i-think-happens-today-is-that-a-lot-of-filmmakers-look-at-other/) [Ted Demme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-demme/) > [Normally as a director, you do look at other films and things that are relevant. But with this film, it became impossible because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-weir/normally-as-a-director-you-do-look-at-other-films-and-things-that-are/) [Peter Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-weir/) ## More by Yorgos Lanthimos > [As long as I can make the films I want to make in decent conditions, I am happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/as-long-as-i-can-make-the-films-i-want-to-make-in-decent-conditions-i/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [I'm just trying to progress with every film I make and become better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/i-m-just-trying-to-progress-with-every-film-i-make-and-become-better/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [For me, filmmaking is not about making statements but about exposing human behavior so people are eager enough to start thinking on their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/for-me-filmmaking-is-not-about-making-statements-but-about-exposing/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [When people don't understand what they're watching, a lot of what they perceive has to do with who they themselves are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/when-people-don-t-understand-what-they-re-watching-a-lot-of-what-they/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [No studio picks up the phone after seeing 'Dogtooth' and goes, like, 'We have the next superhero movie.' Though if one did, that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/no-studio-picks-up-the-phone-after-seeing-dogtooth-and-goes-like-we/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [Everybody has a love/hate relationship with their own country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/everybody-has-a-love-hate-relationship-with-their-own-country/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [I learned about making films by going into advertising, making commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/i-learned-about-making-films-by-going-into-advertising-making/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [I don't have time to read much. I'm trying to read 'The Brothers Karamazov' again, for a year now - I keep getting halfway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/i-don-t-have-time-to-read-much-i-m-trying-to-read-the-brothers/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [Yeah, it shouldn't be an issue. Stories about women, about men, about homosexuals, about heterosexuals. We shouldn't point at what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/yeah-it-shouldn-t-be-an-issue-stories-about-women-about-men-about/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [I think children are really violent with each other often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/i-think-children-are-really-violent-with-each-other-often/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [I think it's been obvious from the beginning that my projects are not going to be something that people already have in mind. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/i-think-it-s-been-obvious-from-the-beginning-that-my-projects-are-not/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [Anytime people see an emotion that is not extremely emotional, they call it 'deadpan.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/anytime-people-see-an-emotion-that-is-not-extremely-emotional-they/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [I never think in metaphors or fully make those kind of associations myself. I just lay down a complex situation and hope things arise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/i-never-think-in-metaphors-or-fully-make-those-kind-of-associations/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [I'm very open to making films anywhere in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/i-m-very-open-to-making-films-anywhere-in-the-world/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [I work very closely with my co-writer, Efthimis Filippou. Ideas either start from him or me, and then the other one develops it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/i-work-very-closely-with-my-co-writer-efthimis-filippou-ideas-either/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) [Explore all 105 Yorgos Lanthimos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "When I look at my films, all I see is everything that went wrong.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Yorgos Lanthimos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/when-i-look-at-my-films-all-i-see-is-everything-that-went-wrong/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/when-i-look-at-my-films-all-i-see-is-everything-that-went-wrong/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/yorgos-lanthimos-4870_cinema_when-i-look-at-my-films-all-i-see-is-eve_2927742.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/yorgos-lanthimos-4870_cinema_when-i-look-at-my-films-all-i-see-is-eve_2927742.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/yorgos-lanthimos-4870_cinema_when-i-look-at-my-films-all-i-see-is-eve_2927742.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I look at my films, all I see is everything that went wrong.” — Yorgos Lanthimos", "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": "Yorgos Lanthimos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I look at my films,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/when-i-look-at-my-films-all-i-see-is-everything-that-went-wrong/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/when-i-look-at-my-films-all-i-see-is-everything-that-went-wrong/#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 } } ] } ```