In the original novel Tianqing is the biological nephew of Jinshan and the story itself is about incest by affinity. The makers of the film version decided not to use the incest angle, so in the film Tianqing and Jinshan are not biologically related.
Was restored in 2017 by French company Impex Films with support from Arte France and Hiventy. This restoration was later first broadcast on October 2, 2017 on Franco-German channel Arte.
Upon its release, Ju Dou faced a ban in China, which was eventually lifted in July 1992.