Moscow-based Russian writer Mariya Zvereva had initially set her story in Siberia, expecting the film to be made Russia, however her script was deemed unsuitable. However the significant social changes throughout the waning Soviet Union meant that it was possible to make the film in Estonia with Tallinnfilm when director Leida Laius expressed interest, and thus the script was adapted to the new setting.
Director Leida Laius's final film, as the financial situation in Estonia following its re-Independence two years later made it hard to get films made. She received a national Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995 and passed away a year later. She is sometimes referred to as the grand lady of Estonian cinema.
Underwent a 4K digital restoration in 2022 as part of A Season of Classic Films, carried out from the original 35mm negatives, preserved at the Film Archive of the National Archives of Estonia.
Upon learning that she was going to receive the Best Actress award at the first ever Sozvezdiye All-Union Festival of Russian Film Actors in Kalinin (now Tver), lead actress Maria Klenskaja, who was busy working on a Mary Poppins play that was about to premiere, was not keen on attending. However director Leida Laius insisted that she had to, telling her "Remember, you are not going there to represent yourself, but Estonia!". When Klenskaja and fellow Estonian actor Lembit Ulfsak returned from the festival, Laius was waiting for them at the airport with flowers.
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