This was Kim Go-eun's first piece as an actress outside of school plays. She didn't even know auditions were on but was invited to audition anyway and was chosen over 300 other potential actresses. She was 21 at the time.
Before shooting, Park Hae-il visited Pagoda Park to observe elderly men, and went through hours of discussion with the director to perfect his character. Director Jung Ji-woo praised Park's "incredible tolerance," undergoing eight hours of special make-up daily and learning the weary gait and gesture of a man in his 70s.
The last line of the character, who is also a victim of domestic violence, was written by Jung, and does not exist in the novel. "I never knew how pretty I was (until I met you)," Eun-gyo tells the poet. Jung said, "It's really about a young girl's journey learning about herself and her own worth. I wanted to capture the moments when she realizes how precious she is to herself and to others.
Based on a novel of same name.
Park said, "I've never been this excited for a film adaptation of my work. I'm thrilled because this novel is based on my own personal thoughts as I grew older. It's a very special piece of mine, and I trusted director Jung's caliber of delving into human psychology and desire." Park visited the film crew twice during the production of the movie, and presented autographed copies of his novel to the leading actors and actresses.