Roland Joffe Quotes

Powerful Roland Joffe for Daily Growth

About Roland Joffe

Roland Joffé is a British film director, screenwriter, and producer, known for his poignant and visually stunning films that often tackle complex moral and humanitarian issues. Born on October 16, 1945, in London, England, Joffé's interest in filmmaking was sparked at an early age when he discovered cinema as a means of escaping the tumultuous environment of his childhood. Joffé attended art school and later studied law before deciding to pursue his passion for film. His breakthrough came with the release of "The Killing Fields" in 1984, a powerful drama about the Cambodian genocide that earned four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film brought international recognition to Joffé, establishing him as a significant voice in the world of cinema. In 1986, Joffé directed "The Mission," another critically acclaimed film set in the 18th century that explores themes of faith, love, and sacrifice amidst the backdrop of colonialism. The film won two Academy Awards and cemented Joffé's reputation as a master storyteller. Throughout his career, Joffé has continued to tackle thought-provoking subjects in films such as "City of Jungle" (1990), "Mistress of Spices" (2005), and "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" (2001). His work often reflects his personal beliefs and experiences, making him a distinctive and influential figure in the film industry. Quotes: 1. "Films are more powerful than we can ever know." - Roland Joffé 2. "The greatest challenge is to find a truth in your work that resonates with people." - Roland Joffé 3. "I try to make films about the human condition, not just entertainment for the evening." - Roland Joffé

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Love is like a fragile glass ball; once it's dropped, it can never be put together exactly as it was."

This quote suggests that love, much like a delicate glass ball, is something precious and vulnerable. Once it has experienced the impact of any significant emotional event or distance (i.e., being 'dropped'), love may not return to its exact original state. The experience, however painful, inevitably leaves an imprint, leading to subtle changes in the relationship dynamics. It emphasizes that love needs careful handling and preservation to maintain its harmony and intimacy.


"Truth is an elusive and complex thing, often hidden by our own fears."

This quote suggests that truth, despite being fundamental, can be challenging to discern due to our inherent human fears. Fear may lead us to distort or avoid the truth, making it 'hidden.' This implies a call to self-awareness and courage in seeking and embracing the truth, even when faced with fear or discomfort.


"The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of." - Blaise Pascal (often associated with Roland Joffe's film 'The Killing Fields')

This quote suggests that there are emotions, intuitions, or feelings within the human heart (metaphorically representing our inner self) that cannot be rationalized or explained by reason or logical understanding alone. In other words, human behavior and decisions often stem from a complex interplay between emotional and intellectual faculties, and while logic may guide us in many aspects of life, it doesn't always capture the full depth and complexity of our experiences. This idea is often associated with the profound impact that emotions can have on decision-making and personal growth, especially as depicted in Roland Joffe's film 'The Killing Fields'.


"Every human life is a story. A story that must be told, and more importantly, understood."

The quote emphasizes the importance of each individual's life narrative and the significance of understanding those stories. It suggests that every person's life, with its unique experiences, challenges, triumphs, and learnings, is a valuable tale worthy of being shared and deciphered. This understanding fosters empathy, connection, and a deeper appreciation for the rich tapestry of human existence.


"I believe in the power of the individual to make a difference. We are all interconnected, and every action we take can have a profound impact on others." - Roland Joffe (not an exact quote but reflects his philosophical stance)

This quote by Roland Joffe emphasizes that each individual has the power to influence the world around them significantly. He suggests that our actions, no matter how small they may seem, can create a ripple effect impacting others in profound ways. Additionally, he implies a sense of interconnectedness among all individuals, suggesting that our actions don't just affect ourselves or those immediately around us but can reach far beyond, touching the lives of many others. In essence, Joffe encourages us to consider the potential consequences of our choices and to act responsibly and compassionately, understanding how our actions may have a broader impact on the world.


When you look at our world, the truth is that we're all under the influence of politics.

- Roland Joffe

Politics, Look, Our, Our World

I cannot forget a conversation that I had with an elderly couple from the tribe. They asked me whether I would kill them after I had finished. When I asked them why they asked that, they replied, Because you white men always do!

- Roland Joffe

Elderly, Couple, Replied, Conversation

I like DVDs so much - it's such a better format than VHS.

- Roland Joffe

Better, Like, Than, DVDs

Indian culture certainly gives the Indian mind, including the mind of the Indian scientist, the ability to think out of the box.

- Roland Joffe

Mind, Think, Certainly, Indian

Sitting down to a meal with an Indian family is different from sitting down to a meal with a British family.

- Roland Joffe

Food, Meal, British, Indian

Much of Indian science seems intuitive and not bound by the rigid thinking of classical scientists.

- Roland Joffe

Science, Bound, Scientists, Indian

Music is a very integral part of the film, but it will not be as full of music as a Bollywood film.

- Roland Joffe

Music, Very, Integral Part, Bollywood

Very good coaches for ski jumpers stand at the top of the slope and watch the jumpers prepare, rather than standing at the bottom and watching them land.

- Roland Joffe

Prepare, Rather, Very, Slope

Conventionally, one looks at history as something of the past. But after Einstein, who knows what is in the past and what is in the present?

- Roland Joffe

Past, Looks, In The Past, Einstein

I try to address my audiences intelligently. The man in the street counts, but sometimes he forgets that he counts.

- Roland Joffe

Street, Address, Counts, Forgets

The actor is concerned with his own bit of it, but the director's somehow trying to work the whole thing into a much bigger picture. It's like conducting an orchestra.

- Roland Joffe

Director, Like, Concerned, Orchestra

They suggested I should introduce an element of reincarnation in the story. At first, I thought that was silly. But then, this whole time dimension began to fascinate me.

- Roland Joffe

Thought, Introduce, Began, Element

I think the job of movie reviewing can be really tough. If a film has layers that need to be thought about, it's easy to get missed the first time around.

- Roland Joffe

Think, Movie, I Think, Reviewing

Good directing is about getting the performance to be just what's right for the movie.

- Roland Joffe

Performance, Movie, Getting, Directing

Making the City Of Joy gave me the best political education of my life. It became a wrestling match between an Englishman who had gradually ceased to be a Marxist, and a culture that was becoming more Marxist by the day.

- Roland Joffe

Education, My Life, Became, Marxist

I began to feel that, in a sense, we were all prisoners of our own history.

- Roland Joffe

Own, Began, Were, Prisoners

Even if we don't know it or aren't aware of it, politics and philosophy are really what make our up lives.

- Roland Joffe

Politics, Lives, Our, Philosophy

I like cinema audiences. I respect them, and I talk to them just like I would anybody I know.

- Roland Joffe

Like, Anybody, Would, Cinema

I simply wanted to state that during this little slice of history, this is what happened and these were the good sides of it, these were the more dangerous sides of it, and this was the result.

- Roland Joffe

History, More, Dangerous, Sides

I'm not a very serious person. You know how they say that clowns are very funny in public and are really sad at home? I'm really kind of stupid at home and more serious in public.

- Roland Joffe

Stupid, Clowns, Very, They Say

The history of the white man in India really jumped up and bit me in the neck.

- Roland Joffe

Me, White, The History Of, Neck

Eventually, the tribe developed so much confidence in me that they invited me to be their chieftain.

- Roland Joffe

Confidence, Me, Invited, Tribe

If you spend a whole afternoon just eating popcorn and watching football, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. But if that's all you do, you get swept along with the tide, without any idea of where you're going.

- Roland Joffe

Tide, Idea, Popcorn, Absolutely Nothing

If the movie's well made and it's about things that count, people will ultimately see the depth in it.

- Roland Joffe

Will, Movie, Made, Depth

I don't really say much about reviewers. It's a very tough job to get all of the depth of a movie all at once.

- Roland Joffe

Movie, Very, About, Depth

I think that will be a lot of fun for audiences to get the same stream of consciousness that was going through my head at the time. It was very exciting to suddenly recall what I was feeling at the time.

- Roland Joffe

Think, Through, Very, Suddenly

It's hard to blame someone because they simply don't have time.

- Roland Joffe

Someone, Hard, Because, Blame

In India, one has to plan according to the monsoons.

- Roland Joffe

Plan, According, India

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