The film is based on the autobiographical novel by Guatemalan writer of Italian descent, Mario Monteforte Toledo, who thought that among his works this book was the best for a film, because it was "full of images".
Although the film takes place in a small, poor town on the shore of the Lake Atitlán Guatemala, the scenes in town were shot in the neat colonial city and former capital of Guatemala: Antigua Guatemala. The cake given to Dr. Zamora by the ladino lady who wishes him to like her daughter, is the almond pie served at the Cafetería Cenicientas in Antigua's Calle del Arco.
Mario Monteforte Toledo showed up several times during production and intervened in order to make sure everything was just as he remembered that it happened. Production was halted for 6 months due to disagreements. After Monteforte's death in 2003, his nephew came to terms with the director and production was continued.
Reportedly, during screenings in Guatemala, indigenous viewers in Guatemala were surprised to see Ladino (Mestizo) actors portray some of the Indian characters. Their way of adjusting the traditional Maya-Tz'utujil costumes on the screen revealed to the Guatemalan audience that they were not used to using indigenous clothing.
Rosa Chavajay - the Tz'utujil love of Monteforte Toledo and the real life equivalent of the film's María - was very nervous as to whether the film would be honest to the real story. She received a visit from the producers, who brought a TV-set and a DVD with them. After seeing the film, Chavajay commented, that it was a very honest film and that she was very satisfied.