While the film is based on a true story, known as the "François Thierry Affair", it opens with text stating that it is a work of fiction and should not be considered as bearing any resemblance to reality. This is likely due to the fact that at the time the film was produced and released, François Thierry had sued journalist Emmanuel Fansten, the author of the non-fiction book the film is based on, for defamation. Thierry lost his case a few months after the film was released.