The director, Suzanne Osten, jused her own childhood experience as inspiration for the story. She her self had grown up with a mentally ill mother. Osten has said that she would like the movie to lead to more openness and less stigma around mental illness.
Esther Quigley is Maria Sundbom's daughter. Maria payed tribute to Esther in her exceptanse speech when winning a Guldbagge (Swedish movie award) for best leading actress.