The film is the result of the 18th version of the screenplay.
The three leading actors prepared for their roles for two and a half months before shooting. At these rehearsals they worked with the directors and tried to understand and accept the point of view of their characters. The final version of the script is based on their improvisations. This method of work was borrowed from acclaimed British director Mike Leigh.
The directors Krzysztof Krauze and Joanna Kos-Krauze met each other at Warsaw's Saviour Square (plac Zbawiciela) and used to live there for many years.
The film is based on a true story, which the directors found in a newspaper article. It was the first time, however, that the director Krzysztof Krauze decided not to meet his movie's real-life counterparts before the shooting.
In preparation for his leading role of Bartek, actor Arkadiusz Janiczek worked at a construction company for several weeks, just like his character.