Hirokazu Koreeda's first film set outside of Japan and his first film not in his native language of Japanese.
Fabienne has two César awards on display in her dressing room. Actress Catherine Deneuve has won two César (prestigious French award, like the academy awards "Oscars"). She won for Le dernier métro (1980), and for Indochine (1992). As she is portraying an actress in the movie, these awards are most certainly hers.
The Sarah to whom it is frequently referred by mother and daughter, bears extensive resemblance with Françoise Dorléac, the actual sister of Catherine Deneuve, who eponymously died young. Even the dress Fabienne gives to her fellow actress looks exactly like one of Dorléac's dresses. It might actually be that dress.
Premiered as official competition at Venice Film Festival.
The film was part of the line-up at TIFF Toronto International Film Festival in September 2019.