Marion Cotillard was originally cast in the lead role but she dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. When the shootings began in September, 2012, her film Rust and Bone (2012) was selected to participate in many film festivals, and Cotillard had to travel and promote it alongside the director Jacques Audiard and her co-star Matthias Schoenaerts. Bérénice Bejo replaced her.
Knowing that this movie was going to be compared to Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (2011), the director actually planted moments that mirrored his previous work.