Director Maciej Dejczer revealed the German producer really changed the ending of the film. "We did not want to, but in the end we agreed with Cezary Harasimowicz. They probably wanted the hero unblemished, so they cut the scene in which he kills the hospital director. It is a pity because the script managed to keep the balance between good and evil so that no one was unambiguous," Dejczer said.
This film has won many awards again, including the prestigious "Hartley-Merrill Award" and an award at the Gdynia Film Festival for the script by Cezary Harasimowicz.
The main music theme for the movie composed by Michal Lorenc "Dance of Elena" is played as an anthem before each and every home game in the city of Lodz in Poland. At the stadium called The Heart of Lodz where Poland's favourite football club Widzew Lodz hosts its home games.
Controversy has arisen in Poland over the scene in which Ida Jablonska, who was 11 years old during filming, appears completely naked. Despite the fact that the director was careful not to show the young actress's genitals, controversy arose because in that scene, Til Schweiger rests his hand on Jablonska's developing breasts. The German actor specified that the gesture was requested by the director and that in any case there was nothing sensual about it.
This film is based on a true story.