The film was inspired by Paul Cox's memory of his mother temporarily going blind when he was a child. He worked on the story for a number of years, then decided he wanted to work with Isabelle Huppert and wrote the script with her in mind. Bob Ellis worked on the script but fought with Cox over the fact it was about a Frenchwoman staying in Australia, and the two men ended their collaboration.[1]
Actors Equity objected to Huppert's importation but this was overruled.[1]
^"Cactus". Ozmovies. 4 September 1986. Retrieved 28 July 2021. ... the casting of Aboriginal artist Banduk Marika as Robert's friend. She acts as a kind of sensible chorus,...