The film was partly shot on location at Auschwitz concentration camp. The film is based on director Wanda Jakubowska's personal expierences as a prisoner at Auschwitz. She claimed that what helped her to survive Auschwitz was constantly thinking about the documentation of her experiences.
One of the very first cinematic depictions of the Holocaust, inspiring many others that followed.
Though all of the actors were Polish, the ones depicting German soldiers learned and spoke German to add to the authenticity of the film.
The film can be seen on youtube with English subtitles.
Aleksandra Slaska's debut.