It's been a question mark for a long time. How can I make a film for both a Chinese audience and a western audience? Will they receive the film in the same way? I don't think I can do that. With the cultural difference between East and West, I cannot make everyone happy. But the only thing I knew that I could only follow my heart, to tell a story from my heart. That's the priority instead of being influenced by different temptations, like getting awards or commercial success.

One can find solace in music and healing. You must understand that during the Cultural Revolution all but the most patriotic of music was banned. It was a crime, certainly to have music from the west, but also the classics.

[on China] It is a country that has no past. Political regimes systematically robbed us of history and it's only now that we are beginning to get it back.

For me, the project I would most like to do someday would be about the Cultural Revolution. I've never bothered to come up with a story because no film on that subject would ever be sanctioned today. But tomorrow things might be different.