Trivia

Originally developed as a miniseries for television. It was then released in cinemas in June 2003 as two three-hour films after the uncut six-hour version had been screened to great acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival. It was eventually aired on Italian TV as originally intended, in 4 parts, in November 2003.

Actors Fabrizio Gifuni and Sonia Bergamasco are married in real life.

At a certain point, Nicola shows a book from the psychiatrist he takes as his model: the man is Franco Basaglia, who inspired the Italian Mental Health Act of 1978 which led to a large reform of the Italian psychiatric system. The law was named after Basaglia.

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

Near the beginning, Matteo reads an Italian translation of "Tom Beatty" from Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology. It is an imaginary epitaph of a lawyer who spent his life gambling. The gist of the poem is that you have 70 years to do something with your life, don't waste it.