'Lianna' (1983) was one of a number of movies in a 1980s Hollywood cycle of pictures about divorce. Initiated by the Best Picture Oscar winning film Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), the cycle included that movie as well as Shoot the Moon (1982), The Champ (1979), Author! Author! (1982), Table for Five (1983), Lianna (1983), Heartburn (1986), Irreconcilable Differences (1984), Enemies, A Love Story (1989), The Good Mother (1988), The War of the Roses (1989) and The Last Married Couple in America (1980).
'Lianna' (1983) was part of a breakthrough cycle of early 1980s movies featuring gay partnerships and drag characters. Others included Partners (1982), Cruising (1980), Victor/Victoria (1982), Tootsie (1982), Personal Best (1982) and The World According to Garp (1982).
John Sayles performed a number of roles on 'Lianna' (1983). Sayles was sole writer, an actor, editor and the director.
John Sayles had written the screenplay for ''Lianna' before writing the screenplay for his debut film, Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980). Sayles failed to get funding for a film about a lesbian love affair in the 1970s, and those who felt comfortable with the material were not comfortable with the film being directed by a man. So, Sayles put the Lianna (1983) screenplay on hold until gaining success with his two first films, Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980) and Baby It's You (1983).
'Lianna' (1983) was filmed in 16mm and was later blown up to 35mm. This was common for independent films of the 1980s. The film was originally meant to be shot on 35mm with a budget of $800,000. Sayles could not raise the funds for this budget, and so they "cut corners" by shooting on 16mm.