General Anton Vincent's (Sir Michael Caine's) fictional national motto is "Homeland or Death". This is a literal translation from Spanish "Patria o Muerte", which was (and is) Cuban national motto under Fidel Castro. The Cuban Communist regime, with its climate, tropical location, uniforms, and even Anton's appearance, is heavily referenced in this movie.
The flag used in this movie, yellow, green and a red star, as the dictator's land flag is the real one of the French Guiana, an ultramarine department of France in South America.
All of the high school scenes were filmed at Benedictine Military School, an all-male Catholic military school in Savannah, Georgia.
This movie held advance screenings, under its working title "Coup d'Etat", at the Nantucket Film Festival, New Jersey Indie Street Film Festival, Carmel International Film Festival, and the Napa Valley Film Festival.