Drive My Car

When I was twenty I saw Husbands, by John Cassavetes.

Husbands in turn shaped 1 film

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I learned so much from his films like 'Werckmeister Harmonies.' For example, when I saw his films, I learned that you could show the passage of time over a long take. This helped me to try to incorporate those kinds of long takes in 'Drive My Car.'

Werckmeister Harmonies in turn shaped 1 film

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I’ve seen almost all of Kiarostami’s films, and Where Is the Friend’s House? is one of my favorites, a film I deeply admire... It’s hard for me to articulate exactly how it influenced my work, but I do think it’s had a profound effect on me.

15) Prize of International Confederation of Art Cinemas for Where is the Friend’s House? at the 42nd Locarno International Film Festival, Switzerland in turn shaped 2 films

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Many films of Kiarostami, Where Is the Friend's House?, Life, and Nothing More..., Through the Olive Trees. I learned from these films how important it is to observe the actions of people very carefully. He takes a very simple setup and reveals so much.

17) Barclay Jury Prize for Where is the Friend’s House? at the 42nd Locarno International Film Festival, Switzerland in turn shaped 2 films

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My work is undoubtedly influenced by Abbas Kiarostami, particularly Close-Up and Homework. His ability to blend documentary and fiction in a seamless way and create something more profound as a result is something I really aspire to.

23) Prize of Best Director for Close-Up at the 5th Dunkerque International Film Festival, France in turn shaped 2 films

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But in terms of the road movie aspect and films that are based on novels, Wim Wenders's Until the End of the World comes to mind, especially the ultimate director's cut.

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I think Kiarostami is certainly one of the directors who has influenced me the most. In particular, his films where people are in cars having conversations, like Taste of Cherry or Ten, have had a very deep impression on me.

Taste of Cherry in turn shaped 2 films

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I thought about Abbas Kiarostami’s films, particularly Taste of Cherry, and how he used cars for his discussions.

53) Taste of Cherry selected as the Best Foreign Film of the Year by Society of Film Critics of Boston, USA in turn shaped 1 film

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I would say Kiarostami is someone whose films I really admire, and particularly The Wind Will Carry Us. And there are moments in my films where characters are inside cars, driving around and having conversations. Maybe there's a stylistic similarity in those parts. I wasn’t thinking about Kiarostami while I was doing it, but I think that critics picking that up is probably very natural. Perhaps it’s like a kind of unconscious influence.

The Wind Will Carry Us in turn shaped 3 films

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I think the films of Wong Kar-wai, especially 'In the Mood for Love,' deeply influenced the way I think about depicting relationships and inner worlds without relying on explicit verbal communication.

In the Mood for Love in turn shaped 8 films

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I learned a lot from John Cassavetes and from Lee Chang-dong, specifically from Oasis.

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