The character of Lucy Berliner (Ally Sheedy) was not based on Nan Goldin's life despite popular belief, apart from her work. The photographs in the film were made by Jojo Whilden.
When Sheedy won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her role, she delivered a very long, impassioned acceptance speech.
Ally Sheedy named this as one of her favorite films of her entire career, including the experience of filming it. When asked if there was anything she specifically remembered about it, she said that she was constantly knocked out by the inventiveness and originality of Patricia Clarkson's performance as Greta. "I had so much trouble in some of the scenes with Patricia because she would just make me laugh, or come up with some line in that accent she had. And that whole character, what she did with that whole character. I remember a lot of things that I loved filming, but the moments that make me smile when I think about them are the moments when Patty would just come out with something and it was almost impossible to just stay in there, because she's hysterical."