Hubert Toint got involved in the project a decade prior to its eventual production, after co-producing Bernard Rapp's film Pas si grave (2003). Rapp intended to produce the film alongside Didier Creste and Toint, with Bernard Giraudeau, who had written the screenplay, directing, with Marie Gillain already attached as lead actress. Rapp however passed away from lung cancer shortly after and around the same time, Giraudeau was diagnosed with cancer as well, leading the imminent filming to be delayed and Toint to step in as co-director to help him out. The two traveled to Chile to scout locations in September 2008, but with Giraudeau's health deteriorating, they realized he wouldn't be able to travel to direct the film and that Toint would be the only one actually on set. Even as they figured out logistics to be able to communicate on the filming progress in the evenings, Giraudeau passed away in 2010. Toint eventually decided to go at it alone in his directorial debut, with filming finally starting in April 2013, and the finished film dedicated to Giraudeau's memory.
Up to seven months before filming, Jean-Luc Bideau was attached to play the part eventually held by Jean-François Stévenin.