As of 2017, this is the only film directed by Michael Haneke to have been screened in the official selection of the Cannes Film Festival without playing in the main competition. This is because that year's jury president, Patrice Chéreau, was part of the cast.
Director Michael Haneke said the final scene wasn't easy to film. "In the final scene of "Time of the Wolf", the young boy undresses and has to throw himself into the fire. Shooting this scene was very complicated, firstly because the young actor had some difficulty getting undressed - we were filming him, and there were lots of people around. What's more, it's a scene where he has to cry. He couldn't do it. So I forced him closer and closer to the fire, he got scared and I started screaming with him, until tears came to his eyes and he really started sobbing - which made for a very touching scene. Afterwards, I had to take him in my arms, console him and explain to him that it was only for the scene," Haneke said.
In nearly every Michael Haneke film, the main female character is called Anne Laurent or some variation. Isabelle Huppert made three films with Haneke (this, La Pianiste (2001), and Amour (2012)). This Is the only film in which she is named Anne Laurent.
Michael Haneke and Isabelle Huppert planned to make this film before "The Piano Teacher" but couldn't secure the financing. After the other film proved to be a major success, the immediately made this one.