One of Barbara's gowns was created specifically for the film by designer Karl Lagerfeld after he heard Julianne Moore was starring.
The two leads, Julianne Moore and Eddie Redmayne, later each won their first Academy Award in 2015, both for a leading role.
The Baekelands' retreat scenes were shot at an 800-year-old castle on Mallorca. It's allegedly haunted by a ghost named Blanca.
In an interview with the Daily Mail published July 12, 2008, Sam Green protested the film's portrayal of him as bisexual, and denied that Barbara and Tony Baekeland's relationship was incestuous. He commenced legal action against the filmmakers, which was still unresolved at the time of his death in 2011. As a member of Andy Warhol's circle, he is also portrayed in the film Factory Girl (2006).
The beach scenes were shot during tourist season. According to Tom Kalin, German nudists were the most common tourists at their location. They had to be wrangled out of some shots, to the consternation of the crew, and to Julianne Moore, whose daughter Liv was on set.