Nadine Labaki quotes:

I was watching TV and saw people with masks, weapons, and grenades. I thought, Is that really possible? Could we be here yet again? And go into civil war one more time?

Beirut turned into a war zone in a matter of hours. We were stuck at home, the roads were blocked.

When people say to me, 'You make us proud,' it's heartwarming to hear that.

I want to keep talking about my people and my country in my own language.

A small film from a small country, in Arabic with nonprofessionals: It was practically impossible. Just to make it was like a dream to me.

I think the first film you do with your instincts because you haven't learned with another director or you haven't worked on other films, so you tend to do things your own way. I think what I learned the most was to take your time, to try to be less rushed into things and have some distance with what you're doing.

There are a lot of female directors in Lebanon but we can't really talk about a true film industry, it's still very small. But we do have a few female directors.

I don't like to be feared, and I can't work in conflict, I'm very bad with conflict. I try to avoid it, it paralyzes me.

I thought if my son was now eighteen years old and he was tempted to join the fight and take the burden of protecting his family - because it's always tempting especially for young men - what would I do as a mother to stop him?

I like to have the impression that whatever is happening is true.

I'm just someone who observes a lot.

It's a different point of view on the world and it's different issues and it's important. It's healthy to have both, and more and more women are becoming of aware of that. And when you are aware of how strong of an impact it has on people - it changes things.