The original Chilean title of the film's source novel and subsequent film is: "Un viejo que leía novelas de amor".
The film was made and first released about twelve years after its source novel of the same name by novelist Luis Sepulveda had been first published in 1989.
One of numerous collaborations of composer Graham Tardif and writer-director Rolf de Heer.
The film was originally going to be filmed in Venezuela, South America.