Due to its positive portrayal of Asperger Syndrome and other autism spectrum conditions, this movie has been frequently screened at autistic conferences and support group meetings for those on the spectrum.
Rachel Weisz was originally cast as Isabelle, but she had to drop out before filming started due to schedule conflicts.
The film is based on the story of Jerry Newport and Mary Newport. They were profiled in 1995 in an LA Times article.
The project was originally planned for Steven Spielberg, but due to his workload it eventually landed in the hands of critically acclaimed Norwegian director Petter Næss. This became his first US production.
The screenplay was written by Ron Bass, who also wrote Rain Man (1988), a movie about an individual with autism. Bass is said to have been inspired by a 1995 article in the Los Angeles Times.