The director approached Mortensen with his script because in his mind he was the ideal actor for the role.Mortensen gave his affirmative answer 10 days after reading it and in the process participated in the production as well.Similarly,Nick Cave agreed to compose the music for the film,after the director presented him with his idea.
David Oelhoffen had to extend the original short story by Albert Camus and adapt it. He used a lot Camus' texts as a journalist, as well as another text called 'Algerian Chronicles', which Camus wrote in the '30s when he traveled to Kabylia.
When Mortenesen had his first meeting with Oelhoffen, he brought him two biographies of Albert Camus and the movie script with notes everywhere. The meeting lasted six or seven hours and it was all day speaking about the script.
David Oelhoffen approached Viggo Mortensen for the lead role after seeing him present at a Montreal Canadiens event, and realized he was fluent in French. Viggo had to adjust his French from Quebecois to a European accent for the role.