The inspiration for the film came about because of a discussion Yorgos Lanthimos was having with some friends who were about to get married. When Lanthimos expressed doubts about the institution and family itself, he was struck by the idea about what would happen to a man who went to the ultimate extreme of protecting his family.
Because the subject matter was so claustrophobic, the choice was made to set the film in as big and expansive a house as the production could find, complete with swimming pool and enormous garden.
The entire film was shot on only one lens: an anamorphic lens with 50mm focal length.
The first film from Greece to be officially selected for the Cannes Film Festival in a decade.
The children's names are never given.