Janet Suzman (Sheila) said of this movie at the time, "We had to learn the simple business of how to cope with a child. How to open its mouth and feed it, how to lift it, how to bathe it. We had a medical advisor on the film, a woman doctor who has been very successful in that field, and she told us whenever we went wrong. (Sir) Alan (Bates (Bri)) and I were both dreading going to the hospital, because we didn't know what to expect. But when you get over that selfish reaction, you begin to appreciate what is being done. You ruffle a little head and you are rewarded with a mindless smile of such joy. It is almost an affirmation of faith, if you want to think in those terms. All the arguments for mercy killings go overboard because in the end, it's a choice between life and death. This is a living human being. It's your child, and you love it."
This movie was filmed in 1970, but was not given a theatrical release until 1972. According to Janet Suzman, speaking on BBC Radio 4's "The Film Programme" in 2009, this was due to Sam Spiegel delaying release of this movie until after Janet Suzman's second movie, Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), was released.
Over 100 children were auditioned for the key role of Josephine.
Peter Nichols based this, his most famous play, on the real-life experiences he and his wife had in coping with a child (who died before this movie was made) with cerebral palsy.