Biography

Directed two Oscar nominated performances: Haing S. Ngor and Sam Waterston. Ngor won for his role in The Killing Fields (1984).

Joffe storyboards all his films.

He was the youngest director ever engaged by Britain's National Theater in 1973 shortly before his 28th birthday.

Grandson of sculptor Jacob Epstein.

Has one daughter with actress Cherie Lunghi, Nathalie Lunghi (full name Nathalie Kathleen Lunghi-Joffé), born 26 August 1986.

I think it's a very dangerous thing for anyone to decide if there was a point when one was good, or that one may be good now. Each movie is a chance to do something different and interesting. That's what I mean by not having a career. I've not tried to be a 'something'. I've just tried to live.

I understand that there should be a British film industry, and I think it's great, and I think Britain has an awful lot to say. But Britain has never really loved its film-makers much. It likes them when they win things. But it's never really supported them particularly. There is no film industry in Britain. There are just individuals who've managed to do well.

The first two movies I made, The Killing Fields (1984) and The Mission (1986), I loved making, but in some ways they've been an albatross round one's neck. Everybody thinks that's what you're supposed to be doing.

[on City of Joy (1992)] Warners was terrified of doing a film about lepers. They said, "Who cares about lepers?" I said it's not a film about lepers, it's a film about life and about any outsider - it could be AIDS, because the way people respond to lepers isn't that different from the way people with AIDS are treated. People say to me, "You're crazy! Why do you go to these difficult locations and lay yourself open to these things?" I reply, "Because it's there and the doing of it will test me."

I am an odd, quirky individual, and the last thing I ever wanted to be was some messianic filmmaker. If something works, don't repeat yourself. Try something different.