The film is very autobiographical. The character of Anna is actually Ingrid von Rosen, Ingmar Bergman's wife, who died of cancer, and was his greatest love. The photography of Anna used in the film is also of Ingrid. The movie is also dedicated "to Ingrid", as stated in the opening title screen.
Although not acknowledged as a sequel to Scenes from a Marriage (1973), the characters Liv Ullmann and Erland Josephson portray have the same names and occupations as they did in Bergman's acclaimed Swedish television miniseries and the action takes place 30 years after their divorce; the same amount of time that had passed since "Scener ur ett äktenskap" was filmed. Ullman's character also refers to the "idiot" that he had left her for as Paula, the character he left her for in "Scener ur ett äktenskap".
The title comes from cello suites composed by Bach, which are dances for couples. The film follows the shape of the dance, with a couple in a conversation that can be described as the dance.
Invited to participate in competition at the film festivals in Cannes and Venice 2003. Ingmar Bergman snubbed both festivals as he was not able to finish editing the theatrical release of the film in time for either of the festivals.