Actor Diego Abatantuono loved Niccolò Ammaniti's novel that much that he begged director Gabriele Salvatores to cast him as Danilo. Unfortunately, that particular character was not included in the final screenplay so Abatantuono couldn't be cast.
Shot in 65 days.
Marinella Chirico and Carla Stella (II) had brief speaking roles in the movie as a TV reporter and a customer at the gas station respectively, but were cut in the final version.
All the actors did their own stunts.