Director Víctor Erice considers this to be an unfinished project. The original script consisted of more than 400 pages and was scheduled to be shot in 81 days. 48 days into shooting, when production was to be moved to the south of Spain, producer Elías Querejeta unexpectedly suspended the project, allegedly because of financing objections by Televisión Española, the backing television network. However, Querejeta revealed years later that he made the decision because he thought the film was complete with what they'd shot so far.
Voted sixth best Spanish film by professionals and critics in 1996 Spanish cinema centenary.
This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #927.