The real Rocco Granata plays the role of the accordion music shop owner.
Most part of the movie is in an Italian dialect from Calabria. Matteo Simoni had to learn this language.
The song "Marina" by Rocco Granata sold more than 5 million copies worldwide and was voted "Best Italian Song of All Time" in Germany.
Rocco Granata is not only a famous singer/songwriter but also became a very successful music producer in his later years. He's the owner of the Belgian record company "Cardinal Records".