I learnt a lot from Abbas Kiarostami. When I was his assistant on The Wind Will Carry Us, I discovered the importance of the location, the local people, the sound, and the relationship with the crew. These are things I carried over into my own films.
Kiarostami is someone whose films I really admire, particularly The Wind Will Carry Us. There are moments in my films where characters are inside cars, driving around and having conversations—perhaps it's like a kind of unconscious influence.
— Ryusuke Hamaguchi · Cineuropa Interview: Ryusuke Hamaguchi • Director of Drive My Car
I would say Kiarostami is someone whose films I really admire, and particularly The Wind Will Carry Us. There are moments in my films where characters are inside cars, driving around and having conversations—perhaps it's like a kind of unconscious influence.
— Ryusuke Hamaguchi · Cineuropa Interview: Ryusuke Hamaguchi • Director of Drive My Car