Quotes by Jane Campion

“To deny women directors, as I suspect is happening in the States, is to deny the feminine vision.”

“Actual violence has no attraction for me at all.”

“What I have learned from my work up to now, is to try to be open, but also protect myself by not letting the good and the evil get too much importance.”

“Women today are dealing with both their independence and also the fact that their lives are built around finding and satisfying the romantic models we grew up with.”

“Women often postpone their lives, thinking that if theyre not with a partner then it doesnt really count. Theyre still searching for their prince, in a way. And as much as we dont discuss that, because its too embarrassing and too sad, I think it really does exist.”

Women today are dealing with both their independence and also the fact that their lives are built around finding and satisfying the romantic models we grew up with.

Women often postpone their lives, thinking that if theyre not with a partner then it doesnt really count. Theyre still searching for their prince, in a way. And as much as we dont discuss that, because its too embarrassing and too sad, I think it really does exist.

My musical knowledge is so bad its embarrassing. When composers discuss music with someone as primitive as myself, they have to talk about it in terms of senses and emotion, rather than keys and tempo.

Tragedy makes you grow up.

I think that the romantic impulse is in all of us and that sometimes we live it for a short time, but its not part of a sensible way of living. Its a heroic path and it generally ends dangerously. I treasure it in the sense that I believe its a path of great courage. It can also be the path of the foolhardy and the compulsive.

I can get very philosophical and ask the questions Keats was asking as a young guy. What are we here for? Whats a soul? Whats it all about? What is thinking about, imagination?

Theres no artist in this world that doesnt enjoy the dream that if they have bad reviews now, the story of Keats can redeem them, in their fantasy or imagination, in the future. I think Keats poem Endymion is a really difficult poem, and Im not surprised that a lot of people pulled it apart in a way.

I feel that directors at times are like the janitors on the set. I am the secretary, I am the organizer, I am the maid, and I ask if they have eaten or rested. The best things are always out of your control. Its those moments that surpass the imagination that are thrilling.

I didnt like England. I couldnt take the look of the place or the style of friendship. I need more intimacy from people than is considered okay there, and I felt that my personality and my enthusiasms werent understood. I had to put a big lid on myself.

I think that the romantic impulse is in all of us and that sometimes we live it for a short time, but its not part of a sensible way of living. Its a heroic path and it generally ends dangerously.

Its been such a deep and amazing journey for me, getting close to John Keats, and also I love Shelley and Byron. I mean, the thing about the Romantic poets is that theyve got the epitaph of romantic posthumously. They all died really young, and Keats, the youngest of them all.

And, I mean, I think poetry does need to be met to some extent, especially, I guess, 19th century poetry, and for me, its just been so worth the effort. Its like Im planting a garden in my head.

As for how criticism of Keats poetry relates to criticism of my own work, Ill leave that for others to decide.

I have to admit that I had a lot of problems with poetry.