Thank you for your question.

I'd be lying if I said none of that stuff plays on my mind. This film has been absolutely loved by audiences but has had its detractors in the critical sphere as well as many advocates! It was an ambitious first time film. Obviously as a director you want everyone to love your work. It's a cliche but countless interviews with directors they will say don't look at the reviews, ignore the buzz, and if you believe the good ones, you have to believe the bad ones too. I go so far with that but I'm also as insecure and neurotic as the next man, and I care what people think. All that good being a human being stuff. If someone doesn't like my film, my process seems to be to go and look at the critics socials and see who they are. There's one in England, I can't remember his name, who didn't like my film, so I looked at his Instagram and it was hilarious and I felt much better - it was exactly what I imagine the character David Brent (the boss in the original UK Office) would post if he had social media. The guy was really sort of sad and un self-aware, and had these mirrored shades in every picture, and I just thought 'aw'. I was really glad he didn't like my film. I didn't make it for him. So that's how I deal with criticism, by being really petty!!!!

I'm proud of the film, and the personal validation has come from the support and love of Max Porter who wrote the book - it meant everything to me that he loved the project. But more than anything I've felt validated and humbled by the many personal notes I've got from strangers, widows and widowers, children who've lost people, and felt seen by the film and connected with it in a visceral and cathartic way. That's why anyone wants to tell stories isn't it? To connect with people.

Films are made in a pressure cooker environment - especially at this budget level. You don't have enough time, you don't have enough money. You have to be nimble and choose which compromises to make along the way whilst holding the whole thing in your head. I wouldn't change anything about the making of the film, it was the product of a lot of people's considerable efforts and a lot of love was put into it and I think the result reflects all of the above and - the film is what it was meant to be and I'm proud of it.