Isabelle Huppert really played the piano in the film. She had studied piano for 12 years. As preparation for her role as a piano teacher, she resumed practicing a year before the film was started.
Received three of the most important awards at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival (Grand Prix, Best Actress, and Best Actor). Since this edition of the festival, there is law which forbids for the jury to give so many important prizes to the same movie.
Isabelle Huppert's performance in this film is considered to be one of the greatest of the previous decade and inspired actresses like Jessica Chastain and Nicole Kidman.
First movie wherein Michael Haneke wrote a screenplay based on a book, as opposed to using his own material. Aside from The Castle (1997)