Director Arnaud Desplechin originally wanted to name the movie "Comment je me suis disputé avec Éric Barbier" (How I Got Into An Argument With Eric Barbier), as a dig at former colleague Eric Barbier, also the basis for movie character Frédéric Rabier. A justice decision prevented him from using the full title, hence the ellipsis and the added subtitle.
The film underwent a 4K restoration from the original negative in 2014 by the Éclair Group on behalf of Why Not Productions, with support from the CNC. The work was supervised by director Arnaud Desplechin and cinematographer Eric Gautier.
Mathieu Amalric was given the script without being told whether he'd play Paul or Nathan. The decision was made ten days before filming.
Melvil Poupaud auditioned for a role but wasn't cast. He ended up working with director Arnaud Desplechin years later in A Christmas Tale (2008). Desplechin also wrote the male lead in Brother and Sister (2022) especially for Poupaud.