It is widely believed that this won the Palme D'or due to jury president Roberto Rossellini's love for it. Rossellini died a week to the day after this award was given.
The actual author of the autobiographical book the movie is based on, Gavino Ledda, appears at the beginning and the end of the movie and talks to the audience. Ironically, he gives a stick to the actor playing the father: a symbol of the violence the father exerts on his son (i.e. Ledda himself in real life).