The teacher in the school scene actually taught history to Writer and Director Richard E. Grant at school in the same classroom where the scene takes place.
This was the first movie to be shot in Swaziland.
At one point, the Swazi government wanted to charge the production for use of the landscape in shot.
Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths, Catherine O'Hara, Meg Ryan and Rachel Weisz turned down the role of Ruby.