For the sex scenes, director Silvio Soldini said he was inspired by Intimité (2001). "I wanted to take on the challenge of shooting sex scenes as naturally as making love in everyday life," he said.
Director Silvio Soldini said the sex scenes were rehearsed several times. "Alba and Pierfrancesco put themselves on the line with a great deal of generosity and professionalism," Soldini explained. "Often in films, these scenes are not rehearsed, to put off the moment of awkwardness, but if you start shooting without exactly knowing what should happen, the results can be disappointing. We rehearsed these scenes just like the others and we shot them in single takes, without a break. True, there were very few of us on the set, and I had to push the dolly myself!"