The film received its world premiere at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival and had a theatrical release in the United Kingdom on 4 June 2021. The film received positive reviews from critics, with praise for Khan's direction and Scanlan's performance. Both were nominated at the 75th BAFTA awards, with Scanlan winning for best actress.
The film get the 2020 Cannes Critics' Week official label selection. Critics' Week was canceled along with all other Cannes festival strands due to the coronavirus.
Writer / Director Aleen Khan has stated that Mary, the films central protagonist, was modelled on his own mother, who herself had converted after getting married. They lived on the Kent coast when he was a child so he is particularly familiar with the films Dover setting.