emir kusturica looks like jeff bridges - maybe a bit more disheveled with his somewhat greasy grown out hair and a random black t-shirt. the interview at AF was recorded for NPR. kusturica was introduced by his interviewer, a movie critic from 'time out'; he entered the small auditorium and sat down at the table. the audience clapped and he just sat there, glancing at us, as if the event was not really held for him. then visibly tense and a bit nervous 'time out' guy stared with his questions; they were interesting questions, i have to say. he asked about how music related to his movies, if kusturica's studies at prague film school taught him anything, how he went from making movies about troubled balkans and mystic gypsies to a documentary about maradona. and kusturica answered so intelligently, with such bright and fresh comments, funny stories, insightful observations about today's society, the state of cinematography, his own mischievous childhood years, and current human condition which can be summed up in the heightened anticipation for a new iphone. he sounded nostalgic about his now lost innocence and freshness present in his past movies, dictated by inexperience, youth, and fascination with human stories caught on a 35 mm film camera. he is so unpretentious and creative, capturing the audience in his own eastern european mindset. an artist, a careful observer of life, a narrator of human stories, a director with so much to say - such a cool guy. there is, though, some controversy related to kusturica's political views, his alledged collaboration with milosevic regime, pro-serbian views in 'underground'... but to that i cannot add much, as i am uninformed and have at this point some major gaps in knowledge on the subject. so, as i do not wish to sound ignorant, i will just say that i liked that simple guy, a director with such distinct vision, willing to take his audience on a journey to some crazy yet forgotten worlds. i would like to ask american film people to have his movies, old and new, available on a much larger (than currently) scale. now, that would be cool.