1: The 1971 documentary 'Land of Silence and Darkness¹ by Werner Herzog. The film tells the story of Fini Straubinger a deaf- blind woman and her quest to communicate with other people like herself.

The scene that really astounds me is Fini attempting to get through to a woman with a stone like face ­ who has been sensually isolated with no communication with another human being since her mother died 20 years previously - she attempts to use her system of hand to hand touching to communicate ­ and we see the woman this person used to be begin to re-emerge before our eyes. This incredibly moving scene of one human being trying to get through to another deeply affected me and I think I have been making films about this ever since.

2: The Enigma of Kasper Hauser . The scene when Kasper first emerges from the ground and is unable to see or even contemplate the country side/ Director Werner Herzog uses an upside down horizon and cuts together a series of shots that seem to perfectly and intuitively communicate the disorientation Kaspar feels at that moment.

3: Sorry another Werner Herzog one 'Grizzly Man¹ where Timothy Treadwell finds a dead animal and is mourning its death and Werner does a voice over which only he could get away with saying how wrong he thinks Treadwell is something like "Treadwell thought the world made sense and contained meaning ­ but I believe that it is nothing but destruction and death and chaos". I love the way Herzog is so unashamedly subjective in his documentaries. It is also very funny.

4: 'The Lives of Others' It was thedebut film of Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. My favourite scene is when the playwright Dreyman discovers that it was the stasi agent HGW XX/7 that saved his life and is shown his name and photo. He takes a taxi and watches HGW XX/7 for a few moments, working at his new job delivering leaflets. He seems so utterly alone and yet Dreymen does not approach him or make any kind of connection. It cuts to two years later, when Dreyman has published his novel "Sonata for A Good Man". By chance, the agent sees the book in a bookstore, and finds that it is dedicated "To HGW XX/7, with gratitude". When he buys the book and the vendor asks him if he should package it as a present, he responds: "No. It's for me."

I love the fact that the space between the two main characters is maintained throughout the film ­ and that they never meet - even though they had such an enormous influence over each others lives. It is the space between people in relationships that interests me so I love this film ­ as it is all about those spaces.

5: Visions of Light ­ the opening of this 1992 documentary about the history of cinematography is what convinced me I had to make films. It strips film back to its bear essentials ­ a dancing display of light ­ a magic trick ­ and it introduced me to the very early German expressionist films which have always delighted me.

6: Ferris Bueller's Day Off ­ I love the way the opening scene is constructed where Ferris is pretending to be ill so he can cut school ­ Hughes was such a great film maker in the early days. I love the way the sister is introduced with the tapping feet and hands and then Ferris¹s reaction before you finally go to her face ­ its very funny and taught me how to cut comedy.

7:Grey Gardens. A wonderful film by Albert and David Maysles. There is a scene where Big and Little Edie wander in and out of a sunlight terrace prattling on about the 'big romance' that little Edie missed out on because of her mother. Again it is the space between the two women mother and daughter that holds me ­ both seem to be complicit in the creation of a complete fantasy world ­ one that they don¹t seem to always enjoy but one that gets repeated endlessly anyway...I think it is the way all close family members communicate on some level.

8: Morvern Callar: The opening scene when the light from the Christmas tree light fizzes on and off as she lies next to her dead boyfriend ­ Ramsey's cinematography is so minimal and her use of sound so well judged and subtle that she manages to convey the isolation and apartness of Morvern through out the film beautifully. This gracefully constructed film begins brilliantly with this scene.

9:Mindre des Choses, La (Every Little Thing) Nicolas Philibert ­ About La Borde psychiatric clinic whose inmates put on a play. A love scene between two patients is one of the most miraculous things I have ever seen.

10:The Breakfast club ­ another piece of early John Hughes genius. The scene when the 'brain¹ Brian Johnson tells us about the elephant he made in woodwork class that got an F ­ and the pressure he feels from his parents ­ so much so he thinks he may take his own life - I think it¹s one uncut take and the performance by Anthony Michel Hall is so truthful and heart breaking.

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