The character of the President, albeit fictional and never mentioned by name, is loosely based on Urho Kekkonen, the President of Finland between 1956 and 1982. Actor Heikki Nousiainen played Kekkonen in the television series Vallan miehet (1986), Presidentit (2005) and "Piru ja peijooni", and in the theatre play "Presidentin dementia" (premiere in February 9, 1994 at Suomen Kansallisteatteri).
The original director Veli-Matti Saikkonen stepped down when Jörn Donner decided to also direct. Actor Kari Heiskanen was Saikkonen's original choice to play the President.