The film was a 'labour of love' for director, cast and crew. Due to the very low budget, it had to be shot intermittently over a period of two years, often at weekends when equipment was cheaper to hire or free.
Pete Postlethwaite found it hard to believe that Terence Davies' father (on whom his character was based) could have been so violent and cruel to his family. It wasn't until Davies asked his sister to tell him about being beaten in the cellar with a broomstick by their father (which is depicted in the film) that Postlethwaite accepted it was true. Davies later admitted that the reality of his father's behaviour and family life was far worse than was actually depicted but thought audiences wouldn't believe it.
The photograph of a man, standing with a pony, on the wall of the living room, is a genuine photo of Terence Davies' father, on whom Pete Postlethwaite's character is based.
By far, the single most expensive scene in the film was the workmen falling through the glass ceiling. As Terence Davies and his crew had no experience in shooting such a sequence, Arthur Wooster, BSC, the Director and Cinematographer of the 'James Bond' 2nd unit was hired. It was shot in one take at a cost of £10,000.
After an initial meeting, Terence Davies felt Pete Postlethwaite was not impressed with him as director nor the set up of the production and was sure he was going to say no to the film. However, his producer told him not to worry and when they showed Postlethwaite the trilogy of earlier short films Davies had made, he agreed to star.
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