From: The Observer - 14 March 1999

'He created more than just movies. He gave us complete environmental experiences that got more, not less, intense the more you watched his pictures. He copied no one while all of us were scrambling to imitate him. He was a teddy bear, and kind. He was terribly misunderstood as a recluse just because he didn't do a lot of press. He actually communicated more than many people I know. When we spoke on the phone, our conversations lasted for hours. He was constantly in contact with hundreds of people all over the world. He would pick up the phone and call a complete stranger to say how much his or her movie impressed him.'