Except for Imelda Staunton, none of the actors knew the film was about abortion until their characters found out.
Filmed without a script, the film was nominated for a 2005 Best Original Screenplay Oscar. Mike Leigh said that he had to prepare a screenplay to sent out to academy members. "But actually the screenplay that was nominated doesn't exist. The film is the screenplay."
Mike Leigh asked the actors to hum in the movie. Because they couldn't afford to buy rights to songs, the actors had to hum something generic.
During filming, all actors were forbidden to even tell their families what the film was about.
The film was submitted for the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, but it was denied. Imelda Staunton thought it would eventually be released in the UK and have little impact. However, it was a big success at the Venice Film Festival, and was nominated for several Academy Awards.