When Paul Dano requested the rights to adapt Richard Ford's novel into this movie he received the following response: "I am grateful to you for your interest in my book, but I should also say this in hopes of actually encouraging you. My book is my book, your picture, were you to make it, is your picture. Your movie maker's fidelity to my novel is of no great concern to me. Establish your own values, means, goal. Leave the book behind so it doesn't get in the way."
Paul Dano said it was tempting to use voiceover in the movie, but the filmmakers chose to set a challenge for themselves and do it without, thereby putting all of their effort into telling the story through the experience of the boy.
Paul Dano's directorial debut.
First of at least two movies Paul Dano has planned to write and direct about families. (Sundance 2018)
This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #1031.