Ernst Umhauer said this about the character he plays in the movie: "He confuses his writing with reality and turns everything in his path upside-down. He has no distance, it takes him a long time to realize his words are stinging and can do damage. He's smart, but not very conscious of his responsibility".
Writer and Director François Ozon's parents were teachers.
Germain was the name of Albert Camus' teacher, to whom he has addressed a famous letter. The choice of the name is by no means random.