The screenwriter, Rhidian Brook, based the story on the real-life experience of his father, who came to stay at a grand house outside of Hamburg after the war. His grandfather, Colonel Walter Brook, was a British officer who led the effort to help Germans in western Hamburg rebuild their city, which had been devastated by Allied bombing raids. Just as in the movie, Col. Brook and his family moved in with the German family, the Ladiges, choosing to live alongside them instead of turning them out of their home. And eventually, the two families became friends.
Keira Knightley uses a body double for the nude scenes in the film. After giving birth to her daughter in May 2015, Knightley, who had been naked onscreen several times since she was sixteen, announced that she would no longer perform nude. She said that in the past, she didn't mind exposing her breasts because, "they're so small people really aren't that interested," but not any longer. "I have been comfortable earlier with more nudity than I am now. I have had a kid, I am in my 30s, I am very happy with my body," the actress revealed. "But I don't feel I need to get it out that much any more." She's added that she's fine if movies use body doubles, but she won't be stripping naked herself for any reason.
Keira Knightley and Jason Clarke's second collaboration after Everest (2015). In both films, they are married to each other.
The young man smokes a cigarette, smokes a few puffs and then throws it in the bucket of water. Cigarettes were too scarce and valuable to just throw away.