The village of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, with its three hundred seventy inhabitants, became part of this movie. Two hundred fifty people from the area were recruited as extras. The population was informed daily about what was going on.
Although Johnny Depp lived in France at the time of filming, he doesn't appear in any of the scenes shot in France. All of his scenes were filmed on a set, or on-location in England. All of Dame Judi Dench's scenes were filmed in England. The DVD commentary notes that her husband was very ill during the shoot, and it was important for her to be close to home.
Juliette Binoche went to a chocolate shop in Paris to learn how to make chocolates. Some of the chocolates she made were used in the festival scene.
As the camera is zooming out on the village, at the end, during the credits, you can see a man walk through the lower half of the square. Director Lasse Hallström wanted to be able to prove that it was the actual village, and not a miniature.
When we finally see him hopping away, Anouk's imaginary "kangaroo", Pantoufle, was played by a wallaby. Three trainers were on-set trying to make the creature hop a certain way.