Official submission of Palestine to the Oscars 2014 best foreign language film category.
The 25 foot partition wall that we see Omar repeatedly scaling was erected by the Israeli authorities to separate their population from the Palestinians in the West Bank. This barrier was put up in 2002, ostensibly to stop Palestinians from entering into Israel to commit terrorist acts. However, it has also been accused of redrawing the territories in the disputed West Bank, giving Israel more land to settle. The wall has been ruled illegal by the International Court of Justice.
Hany Abu-Assad claimed to have written the structure of the film in just one night. Actually writing the screenplay took 4 days.
The second film from Palestine to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film after Paradise Now (2005). Both of these films were directed by Hany Abu-Assad.
The people that Omar's sister mentions at the dinner table are Real Madrid soccer players - Karim Benzema, Lassana Diarra and Marcelo. All three played for Real Madrid in 2012.