Salon.com has a new interview with Twilight director, Catherine Hardwicke.

Salon.com: You’ve directed several films, including “Thirteen” and “The Nativity Story,” and now “Twilight,” about teenage girls. What is it about the teenage years that you find so fascinating? 

Cathering Hardwicke: It’s the first time you can get drunk or kiss a guy or drive a car, or do crazy, stupid or great things. It’s a time that just has so much drama in it, and that makes it cinematically exciting: dramatic, and beautiful, and painful.

Salon.com:The books obviously have a cult following, primarily among women. How would you explain their popularity?

Catherine Hardwicke: It’s just this obsessive rhythmic prose that’s almost repetitive. It’s like you’re getting drawn into this world of obsessive love and that’s kind of addictive and fascinating. I think that people get hooked on that feeling, whether it’s your first time falling in love or you’re 35 and want to fall in love again.

Salon.com: It seems to me that the books are mostly a kind of wish fulfillment. The book positions Bella as an everygirl, while it obsessively emphasizes Edward’s beauty.

Catherine Hardwicke: And how he is protective of her, and yeah, I think that’s wish fulfillment. I think there is also the wish fulfillment of being in love with the bad boy and that he’s in love with you too.

For the rest of the interview, click here.