37 Joshua Oppenheimer Quotes for You to Enjoy

Joshua Oppenheimer

British Director

Born: Sep 23, 1974

About Act People Reality Think You

Related authors: Christopher Guest Christopher Nolan Derek Jarman Louis Theroux Richard Eyre Ridley Scott Sam Mendes Val Guest

Denial, panic, threats, anger - those are very human responses to feeling guilt. Joshua Oppenheimer

Anger Denial Guilt Feeling Panic Those Responses Threats Very Human

The function of journalism is, primarily, to uncover vital new information in the public interest and to put that information in a context so that we can use it to improve the human condition. Joshua Oppenheimer

Vital Put Primarily Uncover Journalism New Context New Information Condition Improve Human Information Human Condition Interest Public Public Interest Use Function

At Harvard, direct cinema was the core of the film department, and most of the students were trying to make socially conscious works, but I was trying to combine fiction and non-fiction to show how our seemingly factual world is constituted through fantasy and stories. Joshua Oppenheimer

World Cinema Our Harvard Direct Seemingly Through Factual Students Combine Most Make Non-Fiction How Were Trying Department Fiction Stories Fantasy Show Works Film Conscious Socially Core

Yes, it was difficult - making 'The Act of Killing' in particular was a very lonely process. No one really believed in it until very close to the end. But it was also a sanctuary. I was working in obscurity. Joshua Oppenheimer

Lonely Difficult Obscurity No-One Particular Until Also Making End Yes Very Close Process Sanctuary Really Working Act Believed

I think Direct Cinema's trying to be insightful by looking at reality in a very close way while, in fact, much more is staged than we like to think. In cinema verite, it's about trying to make something invisible visible - the role of fantasy and imagination in everyday life. Joshua Oppenheimer

Life Reality Cinema Everyday Life Looking Think Imagination Everyday Way Visible Insightful About Direct Something More Fact Invisible Like Make Very Close Than Role Trying In Fact Staged While Fantasy Much

From 2005 to 2010, I was exclusively shooting 'The Act of Killing' and then editing it. Joshua Oppenheimer

Editing Shooting Then Act

Films can't change the society; they can simply open the space for the discussion which can lead to social change and can start new forms of social activism. Joshua Oppenheimer

Change Space Society Films Lead Open Simply New New Forms Discussion Which Forms Social Social Change Activism Start

I still receive very regular death threats that make it impossible for me to return to Indonesia. I think I could get in, but I don't think I could get out again. Joshua Oppenheimer

Death Me Impossible Think Out Threats Could Indonesia Make Return Still Very Get Again Regular Receive

I came across the Indonesian genocide in 2001, when I found myself making a film in a community of survivors. They were plantation workers, and it turned out they were struggling to organize a union. Joshua Oppenheimer

Myself Genocide Community Out Struggling Making Came Were Survivors Turned Workers Across Organize Plantation Union Film Found

I'm against escapist entertainment. Joshua Oppenheimer

Entertainment Escapist Against

I don't like to eat when I watch films because it distracts me. Anything crunchy or in a wrapper is terrible. Joshua Oppenheimer

Me Films Eat Wrapper Like Terrible Because Anything Watch

I don't drink in the cinema because I have a bladder the size of a hummingbird. Joshua Oppenheimer

Cinema Bladder Drink Because Size

Testimony always comes from people who are in some way disempowered. Joshua Oppenheimer

People Way Some Always Testimony Who

For me, I'm a filmmaker because, above all, I'm an explorer. It's my way of exploring and investigating the problems, the questions, and the mysteries about what it means to be human that vex me most, that keep me up at night, and that, when I finally fall asleep, insinuate themselves into my dreams. Joshua Oppenheimer

Dreams Me Problems Mysteries Fall Finally Way About Above Investigating Most Because Questions Up Human Themselves Asleep Means Explorer Exploring Keep Night Filmmaker

We have to support truth and reconciliation and some form of justice. Joshua Oppenheimer

Truth Justice Reconciliation Some Support Form

In Denmark, the annual Christmas party is probably the most important cultural institution in the country. Joshua Oppenheimer

Christmas Country Important Party Institution Most Annual Cultural Denmark The Most Important

At our production company, the trademark dish - and this sounds particularly revolting - is curried pickled herring. Joshua Oppenheimer

Herring Our Particularly Trademark Sounds Revolting Dish Production Production Company Company

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