I didn't set out to make it about any one particular government or regime. It's an allegorical film, but there are certain things I've obviously put in there that you can take.

I've been an assistant director for a long time and I guess everyone who comes out of film school hopes they'll be a director.

The film brings up questions, and I didn't want to tell people what to think. I think there will be lively discussions from this movie. It's hopefully a popcorn movie that you go and watch with your friends and then talk about afterward.

Without sounding conceited about it, it was hard but it did not seem like such a huge leap, because I had done a lot of big films and been around enough talented directors to know what to do if I was in their position.

James is a good actor, but he found the mask very constraining and claustrophobic.

These people were a little mental.